AN ARMY bomb disposal squad carried out a controlled explosion of a suspect package found in The Chequers Mall shopping centre in the heart of Maidstone on Saturday evening.

Shoppers and staff were evacuated from the centre after the package was discovered outside the TJ Hughes store at around 5.30pm.

Roads close to the centre were briefly closed to traffic, but the package turned out to be harmless. The roads were re-opened at about 6.45pm.