He said: “The item discovered was a cause for concern at the time and had to be examined by specialists to ensure it was appropriately handled and dealt with, so not to cause any risk or threat to the public.

“I want to thank all our residents and those in the local area for their patience, assistance and understanding, as we have to take all reports of this nature seriously and all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our communities.”

Stagecoach East Midlands said bus services had been affected, with passengers getting off near the Paragon Interchange, which is next to the shopping centre.

Rail operator Northern said train passengers were also affected, with services in and out of the station suspended.