Police hunt hoaxer after 'widespread disruption' and controlled explosion in Chester city centre

A 'malicious' hoaxer is being hunted by police who said 'widespread disruption' was caused during rush-hour in Chester city centre on Friday evening.

Trains were suspended following a security alert around Chester railway station last night. Services to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport were among those affected by the incident, with buses also suspended from the nearby interchange.

Cheshire Police said in an update on Saturday officers received a report of suspicious activity on two buses in Chester city centre - one near the train station and one near the bus interchange. It's understood bomb squad officers were called to the scene and a controlled explosion was carried out.

READ MORE: LIVE UK weather: Storm Bert brings snow, wind and rain - latest updates

Police chiefs said today there was 'no substance behind the claim made by a passenger that there was a package on either of the buses'. An investigation is now underway with CCTV being analysed.

In a statement, the force said: "Police are continuing to hunt the person responsible for causing widespread disruption to Chester city centre yesterday. At 5.09pm on Friday 22 November police received a report of suspicious activity on two buses. One near the train station and one near the bus interchange.

"As a precaution a cordon was put in place and a number of roads were closed while we investigated the report. EOD attended with other emergency services to assist."

Det Insp Rupert Morrey said: "Thankfully there was no substance behind the claim made by a passenger that there was a package on either of the buses. It appears to have been malicious and we are doing everything we can to find the person responsible. This person caused widespread disruption in the middle of rush hour and caused considerable concern among the community.

"We have an abundance of CCTV in Chester and on the busses as well as other lines of enquiries to help us with our investigation and are relentlessly pursuing these to find the person responsible.”

Police said they were 'keen to speak with the female passenger who alerted the bus driver to assist with our enquiries'.