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Police cordoned off Saddlers Street and people reported being evacuated from cafes. Images put on Twitter show police cars blocking pedestrianised areas. Inspector Steve Dowdle from Durham Constabulary said the road was closed off to carry out further enquiries after several reports were made about a vehicle parked in a suspicious way in Saddler Street in the city centre at around 8.30am. He said: “We took the necessary, appropriate action in relation to this. The vehicle was parked in an unusual location near the Co Op Bank.”

TWITTER•@LiamJEDonbavand Durham city centre has been cordoned off by police

A number of officers were sent to the scene where they located the owner of the vehicle who then moved it. The car’s owner was waiting at the edge of the cordon, unaware of what was happening. Inspector Dowdle added: “It turned out that it was innocent and nothing untoward. Because of that I took the decision to put a cordon up and evacuate the premises”. Police confirmed that businesses and shops were also evacuated to ensure people's saftey.

Twitter/ Chris Conway People stand around after Durham City centre was cordoned off by police this morning

Phil Welch wrote on Twitter: “Just been evacuated from the restaurant where we were having breakfast in Saddler St, central #Durham.” Meanwhile, Jonathan Rowland tweeted: “Durham city centre being cordoned off round the market square shopping areas and evacuated by the police.” And Waterstones book shop in Durham wrote on Twitter: “Please note that due to an ongoing police incident, we'll be closed until further notice. Apologies.” Bakery staff opposite the Co-Op say police officers came into the shop, asked them to lock their doors and evacuate.

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Carmen Bowes, a student at Durham University, said she was evacuated from her home on Elswick Bridge. She told ChronicleLive: “Police evacuated the street at 8.50am - it wasn’t obvious at first why but they said it was because of a car being parked on Market Place. “They just said everyone had to move. “It was all very hush hush. There were police officers in plain clothing wearing vests and two cars on our street.”

Britain increased its terror threat from severe to critical in response to the Manchester bombing. Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured 119 more when he detonated a suicide bomb at the Manchester Arena as families left an Ariana Grande concert. It's led security to be stepped up in towns and cities across the UK.