Package that shut roads 'was from e-scooter battery'

A suspicious package that prompted numerous road closures across Nottingham city centre is believed to be a battery pack for an e-scooter, police have said.

Nottinghamshire Police was called in the early hours of Tuesday after a member of the public discovered the item in Long Row.

Multiple streets were subsequently closed and bomb disposal experts carried out a "controlled explosion" and confirmed the item posed no threat to the public.

The force said it was still investigating what happened.

After the item was found just after 04:30 GMT, officers closed Old Market Square, Long Row, Friar Lane, Wheeler Gate, King Street, Queen Street, Market Street, Exchange Walk, Parliament Street, South Sherwood Street, Maid Marian Way and Tollhouse Lane as the package was dealt with "out of caution", the force said.

Businesses behind the cordons were unable to open, and public transport services were affected.

All the cordons had been lifted by 08:34.

Det Insp Lisa Jones said: "This incident caused significant disruption in the city this morning and we would like to thank the public for the patience and understanding shown while necessary investigation work was carried out.

"Although this item was found to pose no risk to the public, the person who discovered it did exactly the right thing by reporting their concerns to us."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.