A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a bomb scare which caused more than 300 workers to be evacuated.

At around 10.55am this morning (Tuesday, March 19) police received an anonymous report that a suspicious package may be located in a Virgin Media business premises on Teesside.

Three hundred staff from Virgin Media’s call centre on Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton, were evacuated just before lunchtime while officers and sniffer dogs searched the building.

The Virgin Media store in Cleveland shopping centre was also evacuated and taped off while it was searched.

Staff returned at 3.15pm after nothing was found. The Stockton call centre was searched until 4.30pm, but again nothing was found and the cordon was lifted.

Chief Superintendent Glenn Gudgeon said: “I appreciate that the searches caused disruption. We did try and keep this to a minimum, but we do have a responsibility to protect members of the public.”

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “Our sites were searched by police this lunchtime as a precaution after a report of a suspicious package.

“We’d like to thank Cleveland Police as their swift action meant there was no disruption for our customers and to our staff who have shown tremendous spirit.”