CUSTOMERS and staff were evacuated from Bolton Jobcentre Plus after a “suspicious package” was found.

Jobseekers and employees were ushered out of the office in Blackhorse Street in the town centre at 1.45pm yesterday and security staff drew the shutters down.

One client, a former solider called Brian, said: “I was on one of the computers downstairs, just doing my job search.

“Then the fire alarm went off and we were asked to come out.

“They didn’t say what it was about. All the fire alarms were going off.”

About 60 customers and a handful of workers were left waiting outside for about half an hour before the alert was over.

A spokesman for Bolton police said: “Police were called at just before 1.45pm to reports that a building in Blackhorse Street had been evacuated after a suspicious package had been found.”

Police did not cordon off the road or close any neighbouring building during the scare

A spokeswoman for the Department and Work and Pensions said: “There was a suspect package and the police removed it.”

The object was an innocuous bag with some papers inside it and it was handed to Jobcentre Plus’ lost property office.