Reports of a suspicious package left in a residential area sparked bomb fears forcing the road to be closed.

Residents in Margate raised concerns about the item being spotted in Northdown Road, Cliftonville and police were called.

Emergency services attended the scene and cordoned off a 200-metre stretch between Edgar Road and Sweyn Road for about 15 minutes.

They were spotted outside the One Stop supermarket and Boots retail store.

However, the road was reopened when police confirmed the package would not cause any danger.

A spokesman for the force said: "Kent Police was called at 1.29pm to a report of a suspicious package seen in the street in Northdown Road, Cliftonville.

"Officers attended and confirmed the package was not posing any risk to public safety."

Kent Police did not confirm what the item found was, but it is believed to have been a suitcase.