Town centre shops were today once again counting the cost of a bomb scare which cut short a busy afternoon's trading for the second time this year.

The Royals in Southend was closed off for more than two hours on Saturday as bomb disposal experts from Colchester raced to deal with the suspicious package.

The incident comes just four months after a similar incident shut the town for six hours.

April's suspicious package, left in a loading bay under Iceland, turned out to be abandoned sandwiches.

This time, police swung into action after the Royals received a warning call to say a device had been left in the shopping centre's basement.

The centre was evacuated at around 5.30pm after a paint-tin shaped object was discovered in the food court.

A 200 metre cordon was put in place as Colchester's army experts sent in a hi-tech robot to assess the seriousness of the situation.

Firecrews and paramedics were also put on standby.

Insp Bob Palmer, of Southend police, said: "We do apologise for the inconvenience but we cannot compromise safety for convenience."

Many people were forced to wait outside the police tape because they could not return to their cars, parked in the Royals car park.

Diners at Tomassi's had to leave uneaten meals at their table as the restaurant was so close to the crime scene. Bingo at the Palace Hotel was also delayed while the device was made safe.

Speaking after the all-clear was given, Insp Palmer said: "I am quite satisfied that the area is now safe and that it was not an exploding device. There will be an investigation."

Earlier in the day two celebrities had visited the Royals. Actor Paul Usher arrived at the centre to cut the ribbon on the newly refurbished Littlewoods - which only reopened on Saturday - and East End hardman Mad Frankie Fraser had finished book signing at Hammicks just hours before the scare.

Hi-tech solution - the bomb squad's robot goes into action

(Right) Taking no chances - bomb experts were prepared for the worst

Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.