A SPORTS bag loaded with sand that was bound up in a bin liner sparked a bomb scare and “chaos” at a Bexleyheath leisure centre yesterday evening.

More than 1,500 people – including children’s after school clubs – were evacuated from the centre in Brampton Road at 6.26pm after police received reports of a suspicious package.

The package was spotted behind the centre and the whole area was cordoned off and Crook Log Road shut.

A Met Police bomb disposal squad rushed to the scene and the package was declared safe at 7.44pm.

One witness posted on Facebook saying: “It was chaos getting out of the car park and I saw several near-miss scrapes, and a near punch-up.

“People probably not only irritated at being stuck in a traffic jam, but possibly panicking as people were saying it was a bomb.

“Led me to think that perhaps you shouldn't get in your car in such circumstances as, if there was an explosion, there are all these folk sitting in their cars not going anywhere.”

Were you caught up in the bomb scare? Email the newsroom or call us on 01689 885734.

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