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Police shut Westminster Bridge after reports of a suspicious vehicle.

Officers cleared traffic and pedestrians off the bridge, close to Parliament, after being called just before 5.50pm.

Scotland Yard said it was investigating an abandoned vehicle.

Witnesses said they had been told the bridge "would be shut for some time".

Pictures and video from the scene showed a heavy police presence and a cordon near to Parliament Square.

Officers established the vehicle had broken down after they located its driver, a Met spokeswoman said.

The bridge reopened within an hour.

Britain remains on high alert after the UK's terror threat level was raised to critical following the Manchester Arena bombing.

Soldiers have been deployed to guard “key locations” including the Palace of Westminster, embassies and other sensitive sites .