Bomb squad officers called to investigate a suspicious package left on a Queensland street were relieved to find it was merely a pot of crabs.

A Queensland Police spokesman said a street at Crestmead, south of Brisbane, was shut down this morning after a resident called the national terrorism hotline to report that a pressure cooker had been left on a footpath.

He said bomb squad officers carefully approached the appliance, which was emitting a strange smell.

When they opened the pot they found it full of crabs.

Police were unable to confirm if the crabs were cooked or uncooked.

Council has been contacted to remove the creatures.