A UNIT used to care for older people with mental health disabilities had to be cordoned off this afternoon after a suspicious white powder was found.

The powder, which turned out to be harmless, was discovered at the Southland’s Assessment Unit, Rook Lane, Bobbing, in an external envelope sent to a member of staff.

Adrian Lowther, communications manager for the West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust, said that staff in the office were isolated as a precautionary measure and no-one was allowed in or out of the unit while the find was investigated.

He also said that services were running as normal around them.