An investigation has been launched after a suspect package brought road closures and chaos to a Kent city.

Police say they are not linking the suspect package found in Canterbury yesterday with a bomb scare at Kent University earlier in the week.

A probe is under way after roads in Wincheap were closed when the package was found on the Esso garage forecourt in Wincheap just after 3.15pm.

It was declared safe by Army bomb disposal experts and roads re-opened at 4.35pm, but the petrol station remained closed for a further two hours.

Police say the package may have been put there intentionally. The maximum punishment for a bomb hoax is a six-month jail term.

Area commander Ch Supt John Molloy said: "If people do decide to create this sort of situation, for whatever selfish or small-minded reasons, it causes major disruption and has a significant impact on people's lives. We treat this very seriously and will seek to prosecute those responsible."

Deputy area commander Supt Chris Hogben added: "We are not linking this incident with the one at Kent University. Officers are continuing their investigation.

"We are grateful to those who alerted the garage staff and urge people to go about their daily lives but remain vigilant and always report anything suspicious."

The suspect package at Esso was spotted by local roofer Kevin French as he pumped up a flat tyre to his lorry on the garage forecourt.

He said: "It was about the size of a mobile phone but wrapped in brown parcel tape and had wires sticking out of it and a little red flashing light.

"I thought, 'that doesn't look right' and alerted the garage owner."