A TOWN centre has returned to normal after shop staff and pedestrians were evacuated following reports a suspicious package had been found at a Royal Mail delivery office.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers from the MOD have confirmed the package was a genuine parcel.

Police evacuated homes and businesses this morning over fears the package could contain explosives.

Royal Mail spokesman Sally Hopkins said: “We can confirm that a suspect item was found in Diss delivery office this morning and on the advice of the police the building was evacuated and an exclusion zone was set up around the site. We apologise to any customers who could not access the enquiry office, which was closed for a short while.

“The package was found to be harmless so the exclusion zone has now been lifted and the enquiry office will re-open as usual this afternoon at 2pm. There was no disruption to deliveries, which went out this morning as usual. Mail collections will be made this evening as usual.”

Jason Beeton, manager of the Boots store in Market Place, said: “The evacuation was relatively straightforward. There were a lot of people that were perhaps a bit confused, but otherwise it was all fairly orderly. The police did not give us any details of what it was, just that it was a credible threat and we needed to get a safe distance away.”