Forty businesses and homes were evacuated earlier today after a security alert in Chatham town centre.

Police were called to a High Street branch of Lloyds TSB after staff became concerned about a package left on the doorstep shortly before 9am.

For an eye witness account watch the video on the right >>>

A bomb disposal team from the Royal Logistics Corps in Folkestone was called in as a precaution.

Police also put in place a 100-metre cordon around the bank, located at the junction with Railway Street.

The package, wrapped in a black plastic bag, was examined, but found to contain nothing more than a pack of binliners. The cordon was lifted at 10.55am

Sgt Tim Price, from Medway Police, said: "The bomb disposal unit have dealt with the package.

"They discovered it was benign and once they finished up, we were able to re-open the town centre."

• For eyewitness reports and more pictures visit www.medwaymessenger.co.uk