Island prison calls in bomb squad

A SUSPICIOUS package, which alerted the bomb squad to a Sheppey prison, turned out to be a PlayStation electronic game.

The alarm was raised at Elmley prison, Eastchurch, on Wednesday.

Prisoners and staff were evacuated from the reception, health care centre and segregation units, but the main wings were not affected.

Emergency services were called to the scene and put on standby until bomb disposal experts arrived at noon. Roads were sealed off and visits were cancelled.

After an X-ray, the package was declared safe just before 1pm. Staff and prisoners were returned to the prison and all areas reopened by 1pm.

A police spokesperson said: "It's not uncommon for items such as this to be sent to inmates, but in light of recent events the prison was being more security conscious."