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A bomb scare on board a P&O ferry at the Port of Dover has been blamed on security staff who forgot to remove a fake device following a terror drill, it has been reported.

Hundreds of passengers were evacuated after one spotted the "Coke bottle with wires coming out of it" - the day after the security exercise took place.

The terrifying ordeal saw military bomb disposal teams, police and paramedics all rush to the Port of Dover in Kent at 7am on Saturday, September 28, to assess the suspicious package.

However, it has now emerged that it was a dummy explosive - which is even said to have had the word "bomb" written on it - left behind by staff.

A source told The Sun: "Everybody was a bit on edge. They thought a terrorist plot had been foiled.

"A few fake bombs had been dotted around the ship for a training exercise and then packed away safely, but this one was forgotten.

"It left P&O top brass very embarrassed -- and a few employees are in line for a very stern chat."

P&O said in a statement to Mirror Online: "We apologise to all those inconvenienced by the incident on the Pride of Canterbury last weekend.

"The safety of our customers is always the first priority in our operations and we are conducting a full investigation."

In a previous statement a P&O Ferries spokesman said: "A suspicious package was found on one of our ships this morning, the authorities are currently in attendance, and all passengers and non-essential crew have been evacuated as a precaution."