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Forfar town centre was plunged into lockdown after a letter with an alleged anthrax threat was delivered to council offices.

It is understood the letter indicated it contained spores of the disease, along with the message “Get SNP out. Tories in”.

It was delivered to the Municipal Buildings in the town’s Castle Street on Wednesday afternoon.

A full-scale emergency response was scrambled after the alarm was raised at around 1.35pm.

Police, ambulances, four fire appliances, a heavy rescue unit and a specialist chemical unit were dispatched to the scene.

The main thoroughfare in the town was sealed off by police as a precaution before the package was safely removed by firefighters wearing chemical protective suits.

The firefighters entered the building at around 3.45pm before emerging five minutes later with the package in a brown evidence bag.

Two paramedics were later seen entering the building.

Police said the package will now be tested to determine what it was but they stressed there was no danger to the public.

Sergeant Bill Strachan of Police Scotland, who is based in Forfar, said: “There was a suspicious package delivered earlier to the council office.

“The package has been safely removed by Scottish Fire and Rescue with full first responder backup from the police and ambulance service.

“There was no danger to the public and the package will now be tested by Scottish Fire and Rescue to determine what it was.”

There were traffic delays as a result of the incident, although Mr Strachan could not say what the package was.

A spokesman for Angus Council said: “We are working closely with our emergency service partners in accordance with national protocols and procedures.

“There is no immediate danger to staff and members of the public should be reassured that all appropriate and precautionary actions are being taken.”

The Municipal Buildings is home to the Forfar ACCESS office and is just off the High Street at the back of the Town and County Hall.

A small section of Castle Street near to East High Street, between Greggs and the Salvation Army office was cordoned off while the operation was under way.

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “A total of four fire appliances, a heavy rescue unit and a specialist chemical unit were mobilised after the alarm was raised at 1.37pm on Wednesday.”

On Tuesday a suspicious package was delivered to the office of an SNP MP.

Police and emergency services went to John Nicolson’s constituency office in Kirkintilloch but reports suggested the package contained nothing more than a crumbled biscuit.