A BUSY high street was closed today following a bomb scare which proved to be a false alarm.

Police officers closed High Street, Rochester, shortly before 10am after a suspect briefcase was discovered next to the Royal Mail office in Almon Place.

A cordon was established at the Star Hill end of the High Street and traffic was diverted away from Corporation Street.

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene where they x-rayed the briefcase and found it to be safe. Its contents have been sent for analysis.

Police said the roads were reopened shortly after 12.30pm.

Insp Derek Littler, said: "As is routine in incidents of this kind a cordon was put in place and nearby roads closed to prevent people entering the area while the briefcase was being investigated."