Cumbria town centre shut down after bag containing child's chemistry set found
Police say the items posed no risk and no offences were identified; cordon around The Snecklifter pub in Whitehaven was in place overnight
A town centre in Whitehaven, Cumbria, was briefly shut down on the night of 10 September after police responded to a bag containing suspicious items. Officers were called at about 19:35 BST and drafted in specialists to assess the scene near The Snecklifter pub on Duke Street.
The cordon around the pub and surrounding area remained in place into the following morning as investigators checked for potential threats. Police urged the public not to speculate online about the bag's contents while officers worked.
Police later confirmed that the items included a child's chemistry set. They said the item posed no risk and that no criminal offence had been identified. A police spokesman said investigators were not actively seeking to speak to anyone in relation to the incident.
There were no reports of injuries or damage, and authorities said the measures were precautionary while experts examined the scene. The incident followed routine safety protocols used in busy town centres when officials encounter potentially suspicious packages.
The police did not indicate changes to procedures following the incident, and there was no further disruption reported in Whitehaven.