Forty businesses and homes were evacuated after a security alert in Chatham town centre.

Police were called to a High Street branch of Lloyds TSB after staff became concerned about a package left on the doorstep shortly before 9am on Monday.

A bomb disposal team from the Royal Logistics Corps in Folkestone was called in as a precaution.

Police also put in place a 100-metre cordon around the bank, located at the junction with Railway Street.

The package, wrapped in a black plastic bag, was examined, but found to contain nothing more than a pack of binliners. The cordon was lifted at 10.55am

Sgt Tim Price, from Medway Police, said: "The bomb disposal unit have dealt with the package.

"They discovered it was benign and once they finished up, we were able to re-open the town centre."

• Click link above to hear Chatham newsagent Sid Patel give his account of the drama.

• Were you on the High Street during Monday's bomb scare? Were you the one who left the bin bag calling card? Call our newsdesk on 01634 227847 or email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk