Downing Street alert called off

The alert at 10 Downing Street has been called off, with Downing Street reopened.

Police sources said a ‘‘suspect package’’ had been found inside No 10.

A Scotland Yard spokesman later said the alert was a false alarm.

Number 10 contains secure blast-proof rooms where meetings can be held during security alerts.

Most other Government buildings, too, contain ‘‘secure zones’’ where staff are martialled if an attack is feared.

A police car blocked the entrance to Downing Street and all vehicles were being refused entry.

The alert happened at 8.34am, just over half an hour after a meeting of the Cabinet’s Civil Contingencies Committee had begun.

At 8.39am a police Range Rover swept across Whitehall from the MoD to take up a position outside number 10.

Traffic was allowed to move freely along Parliament Street and Whitehall as the alert continued.