Morrisons was evacuated after suspect package was found

A man has denied blackmailing a supermarket while making a bomb threat.

David Williams, of Knaves Acre, Headcorn, entered the plea when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday.

Bomb disposal experts were called to Morrisons in Sutton Road at noon on December 10 last year after a package made to look like a bomb was discovered in one of the aisles.

Hundreds of shoppers had to be evacuated and cars were cleared from the car park.

Sutton Road had to be closed for half an hour and police cordoned off the entrance to the supermarket. A controlled explosion was then carried out.

Williams, 48, will return to court on Friday April 12.

He has been granted bail conditional on a tagged curfew between 6pm and 6am, reporting to police twice a week, not going Morrisons in Sutton Road and surrendering his passport.