Police say nothing was found after The Grand hotel was evacuated after an anonymous phone call was received alleging a bomb was in the building.

Management at the King's Road hotel alerted Sussex Police at 4.30pm and evacuated the building.Sussex Police shut the A259 King's Road from the aquarium roundabout to the British Airways i360 in both directions.

A Sussex Police spokesman said in a statement: "The search of the Grand Hotel in Brighton ended at 9.15pm on Sunday evening without anything suspicious being found, and staff and guests began to re-enter the hotel.

"Road closures and closures of adjacent car parks are being withdrawn."

Searches took place in the hotel by specially trained police search advisers, local officers, police dogs, and military ordnance disposal experts.

Nothing untoward was found and the call is being regarded as a hoax, the spokesman added.

Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell said: "It was important that this report was thoroughly looked into and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of staff, guests, and people using the nearby car parks, whose afternoon and evening was disrupted.

"A comprehensive criminal investigation is underway to trace the person responsible for the call.

"We are not disclosing any details of the call, but certain lines of enquiry are being actively followed."

The Brighton Centre - where the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are holding their annual conference this week - was also evacuated although it was not at threat according to the police spokesman.

The union's general secretary Frances O'Grady and Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, are both attending the event in Brighton today.

Labour's Shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Unite leader Len McCluskey are also in the city.