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Bomb disposal team called to Southend Airport Bomb disposal team called to Southend Airport bag of rubbish
(about 2 hours later)
Bomb disposal experts have been called to Southend Airport to deal with a suspicious bag found on a roundabout. A "suspicious bag" found on a roundabout close to Southend Airport was found to contain just clothes and rubbish, police said.
They were called by officers from Essex Police at 10:40 BST, who have closed local roads and evacuated the Holiday Inn hotel bordering the airport. Bomb disposal experts were called to the airport approach road about 10:40 BST.
The entrance to the airport has also been closed. The entrance to the airport was closed and passengers arriving at the terminal were told not to leave the site.
The airport tweeted it was currently "dealing with an incident" and "more information will follow". Four inbound and outbound flights were delayed for 50 minutes. The police cordon was lifted at about 13:00 BST.
Essex Police tweeted: "Entrance cordoned @SouthendAirport after discovery of unattended suspicious bag. @DefenceHQ Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at scene." Mark Slemmings, who had just arrived at the airport from Barcelona, said: "After clearing immigration we heard that nobody was allowed in or out of the airport.
"I walked as far as I could go, but was stopped by airport staff.
"Once we could leave you could see the cordon and a suitcase looked like it had been exploded with rubbish everywhere."
A spokesman for Essex Police said: "The bag, which had been left on a roundabout near the airport approach road, contained rubbish and old clothes.
"Roads were reopened shortly before 1pm and traffic congestion in the area is expected to clear soon."