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

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

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'.