TRAFALGAR Square was evacuated by armed cops this afternoon after a "suspicious item" was found.

The popular tourist destination was cordoned off with Charing Cross Station also closed.

3 A cordon was in place around Trafalgar Square after a 'suspicious package' was found Credit: @gwenn_laine : Twitter

3 The suspicious package was declared safe shortly after 3.30pm Credit: @Bsolanky : Twitter

The item was found in Duncannon Street, which links the Strand to Charing Cross Road.

Police have confirmed the alert is not being treated as a terrorist incident with cordons lifted at about 3.45pm.

Pictures posted to social media showed a heavy police presence with a large cordon in place.

MOST READ IN NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Latest 'BIG FRIENDLY BEAR' First pics of sergeant shot dead at police station as pals pay tribute HERE WE SNOW! Leeds hit by SNOW as temps plummet to -5 as Brits brace for 65mph gusts today Exclusive GRIM FIND Cadaver dogs smell HUMAN REMAINS by Carole Baskin's missing husband's lake house Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS EUGE NEWS Princess Eugenie 'so excited' to be expecting baby as Andrew & Fergie share joy

Buses were seen abandoned just outside the cordon with office workers reporting their buildings had been placed on lockdown.

Cops drafted in specialist officers to examine the package before declaring the area safe.

Both mainline and Tube services were affected by the closure of Charing Cross station.

3 Pictures from the scene showed an abandoned tourist bus Credit: Twitter / @SByrneFraser

For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online, where we will bring you live updates as soon as they happen, before anyone else.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun, and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun, where we will bring you this story and all the rest of the top news and exclusives of the day.

Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video