Royal Mail staff were evacuated from an Eltham delivery office yesterday (October 29) after a white powder - later found to be harmless - was suspected to be Anthrax.

News Shopper:

Police and ambulance crews were called out to the suspect package at the Eltham Royal Mail delivery office in Court Yard.

A source told News Shopper: "Someone had a letter, about an A4 sized one, and out of the corner of the envelope white powder started to pour out."

They added: "The next thing we knew we were told that the army were outside with the police. 

"They said it was anthrax or a similar chemical."

The contents of the suspicious package were later found to be harmless.  A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service, which sent its hazard response team to the scene, said four people were checked over but no one was taken to hospital.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: "We can confirm that a suspicious package was discovered in the Eltham Delivery Office this morning.

"Following Royal Mail’s procedures, the package was immediately isolated and the office was evacuated.

"Emergency services were called and the package proved harmless. Postmen and women returned to work and we apologise to any customer whose mail has been delayed today.  

"The safety of our people is of the utmost importance to Royal Mail and we have strict procedures in place to deal with these types of incident."

Court Road was partially blocked between the Eltham High Street junction and the Court Yard junction.