IPSWICH’S Town Hall and market were evacuated after a bomb scare today.

The area around the Corn Hill, including Princes Street, was cordoned off.

Around 150 people had to leave the building after it was evacuated at around 2.30pm.

A suspicious package was discovered in the Customer Services Centre and police officers called in the bomb squad.

It is thought that a man left a rucksack and holdall in the building.

Those working in the building have been told not to return today, while market traders have been evacuated from their stalls.

The market was also cordoned off.

While officers manned the cordon, which stretched from the Corn Hill down to Giles Circus and Princes Street, a man broke through the barrier, running towards the Town Hall.

Officers detained the man, escorting him out of the area.

Police officers lifted the cordon at around 5.30pm after discovering the bags were not a threat.

A Suffolk police spokesman said an investigation is now under way to trace the man who left the bags in the building.

The bomb squad from Northholt in west London were on the way to the scene but the incident was resolved before they arrived.

Check this site for updates.

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