Part of Canterbury city centre were cordoned off early this morning following another bomb scare.

Police were alerted after CCTV operators and security staff at Canterbury Cathedral reported a suitcase abandoned in the Buttermarket.

It was left near a pile of rubbish bags outside the Visitor Information Centre where staff had to evacuate the building.

Part of Sun Street was also closed off while police investigated the battered red case which was moved to the centre of the Buttermarket.

After about 15 minutes officers established the suitcase was harmless and the area was re-opened at about 9.45am

City centre manager Philippe Esclasse, who was among those evacuated from the area, said: "Understandably, with the recent bomb scares, a suitcase left in such a prominent place outside the Cathedral entrance needed to be checked out."

Insp Steve Parks said: "We take all reports of suspect packages seriously.

"On this occasion it was simply an old suitcase that had been left out with the rubbish."