POLICE are investigating suspected "tampering" after loaves of bread contaminated with glass and sewing needles were traced to the same Kent bakery.

Five different people found fragments of the materials inside the packaging of Kingsmill sliced bread from Allied Bakeries’ site in Orpington.

The bakery supplies stores in Kent and across the South East, including Bookers, Iceland, Londis, Sainsbury’s, Spar, Tesco and a range of smaller retail outlets.

There have been no reports of foreign objects found in bread sold by these retailers under their own labels.

Allied Bakeries and the police have not revealed where in the region the contaminated bread was found.

No-one was hurt in the incidents.

Allied Bakeries said it had increased security at the Orpington bakery to "minimise the risk of further tampering" and "deliberate contamination" and to ensure that its products were safe.

In a statement, the company said: "We take these reported incidents very seriously and have been and continue to work closely with the Food Standards Agency and police."

It added: "It is important to emphasise that the number of complaints represents a very small proportion of the total amount of loaves produced by the bakery."

The bakery produces 2.5 million loaves each week.

Any customers who find foreign objects in any Allied Bakeries bread are advised by the Food Standard Agency to contact the Allied Bakeries customer careline on 01628 507320.

* Do you know where the contaminated loaves were found? E-mail bromleyextra@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 020 8308 7401.