A badly packaged driving licence and documents sparked a major security alert in a historic city centre.

Canterbury Magistrates Court and surrounding homes and shops were evacuated after an unmarked and heavily sellotaped A3 envelope, described as fat at one end, was hand delivered to staff.

The building was immediately cleared, along with nearby shops, houses and a playgroup.

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Police set up an exclusion zone around the building, which is located between Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey - both World Heritage sites.

But after sealing off the area for around two hours, the package was found to be a driving licence and folded documents.

A source at the court said the contents were packaged in a way that felt like a hard object and wiring.

Interviewed at the time, Steve Binns, owner of The Shack ski shop, about 300 metres from the cordon, said: "There's police tape everywhere, there's police everywhere, there are firefighters and paramedics everywhere.

"The bomb disposal guys have also appeared. They are unloading a remote unit from a lorry and there are technicians around.

"As far as I can see everyone inside the cordon has been evacuated."

The Ministry of Defence bomb disposal unit was called and inspected the package, declaring it safe just before 1pm.

Kent Police said there was no danger to the public, but the court services had been right to report the package.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called by staff at Canterbury Magistrates Court at 10.37am, after an unidentified package was delivered to the premises.

"Court staff have evacuated the building and the MOD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has been called. Kent Police is in attendance to manage a cordon in Broad Street."

Trails at the court were suspended during the evacuation.

Video: Bomb scare sparks court evacuation

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