Traffic snarl-ups hit Colchester's major traffic routes after reports of a suspect package at an A12 restaurant.
Police received calls about an unattended briefcase at the Little Chef, near the Ardleigh Crown Interchange, at 3pm yesterday.
Officers evacuated the scene and cordoned off the area, and awaited the arrival of the bomb disposal team.
Both carriageways of the A12 were shut in the run-up to rush hour at 4.30pm.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "We got reports of a suspect brief case just before 3pm.
"The bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion and it was not suspicious."
Motorists heading towards Colchester queued back as far as Marks Tey as they waited in their cars to get home. The routes were reopened shortly after 5.30pm.
The police spokesman added: "We would like to urge people to be careful and mindful of leaving items and packages where they can cause alarm."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article