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Police were today hunting for a driver who abandoned his car in the middle of the street outside the Bank of England causing a massive security alert.

Bank undergound station was closed and all roads around the area were sealed off as police used a bomb disposal robot to check the vehicle.

Witnesses said the motorist left the dark green Toyota Avensis abandoned in the road at the junction outside Bank station before walking away.

Lexi Boddy posted on Twitter: “Guy in car with music blaring. Runs red light. Stops car in intersection & walks off. Police everywhere. Bank station.”

She added: "I called it in to police to describe him. When I left they were creating road block and putting up tape to stop people walking by!"

Ms Boddy, 26, a production designer, told the Standard: “The driver was stopped at traffic lights with his music massively loud and his windows down.

“Then he ran the red light, pulled across the street into the middle of the intersection, opened his door and walked across the street to the Tube entrance.

“He left the car with the door open and the music blaring. He did not look at anyone and walked calmly making a B-line for the Tube. It was bizarre.

“He was white, stocky, about 6ft tall with a shaved head. He was dressed normally in jeans and a T shirt.”

City workers were told to remain in their offices and stay away from windows, while some were advised to shelter in basements while the alert continued.

Charles Gervais, 46, said: "I was in a gym round the corner preparing for a photoshoot when security guards came in and told us to go down to the basement."

The photographer who lives in Hammersmith said: “At about 11, I had to get out of my taxi because the traffic was so bad. I saw police officers in armour and dogs in vans and thought ‘oh wait this is quite dramatic’."

Bank station and Bank Junction were both closed while police investigated, Transport for London said.

Colin Witcher was preparing for a trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court when he was herded into the main hall.

"It was nuts. Judges, barristers and defendants were all herded in together for around half an hour, 45 minutes.

"There were about 40 or 50 of us in there.

"The security guards said they suspected the car had a bomb in it."

City of London police said the vehicle was safe at around 1pm today, two hours after first arriving at the scene.

A bomb disposal robot was used to check out the vehicle before it was examined by officers in protective clothing.

A spokesman for the Bank of England said there had been a security alert but added that employees continued to work as usual.

In an update on Friday afternoon, City police said a 34-year-old man had been arrested following the incident.

A spokeswoman said he was arrested on Thursday afternoon by officers from the Metropolitan Police on a separate matter and officers from City police would question him in due course.