A Metropolitan Police bomb disposal robot destroyed a box of Labour MPs’ unsent Christmas cards that had triggered a lockdown around Parliament.
Roads around Parliament Square were blocked off by police at about 07.30 GMT on Thursday to allow the robot to inspect a package that had been left in Victroria Tower Gardens.
Officers confirmed the item was non-suspicious following an investigation and the area was reopened an hour later.
Remnants found at the site included parts of Christmas cards decorated with pictures drawn by children intended for Labour MPs and constituency offices, some bearing MPs’ addresses.