A Stourbridge bank was evacuated yesterday lunchtime after a suspicious package was found.

Customers at HSBC in the High Street were shocked to be ushered out of the branch after the discovery which left the bank closed for about 45 minutes.

However - the drama turned out to be a false alarm. A member of staff at the branch said an unattended suitcase had prompted the concern but it turned out to be nothing.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers were called about the incident but did not attend as within a few minutes it was determined the suspicious item turned out to be "just someone's briefcase".