A BOMB hoax sparked by the discovery of a suspect package in a town-centre office could be linked to a group's national campaign targeting the legal system.

Panic-stricken workers at shops and offices on Barrow Street had to be evacuated on Friday afternoon after police said the package had been sent by mail to a second floor office.

Police and fire crews were called to the area at about 12.30pm and a cordon was swiftly thrown round the street while the package was inspected. The zone remained sealed off for about an hour.

A worker at Pickles Farms on Barrow Street said: "A policewoman said we had to be out quick. We just downed tools and there was panic. The bomb squad were there. It was upsetting and really scary."

Discovery

On Monday police said that the discovery was similar to scares at offices in Liverpool and Southport on Thursday, August 13.

According to a police spokesperson, the discoveries were thought to be "part of national campaign by a particular group targeting companies associated with the legal system". Investigations will examine whether the St Helens hoax is linked to them.

Dozens of hoaxes happened across the country on Thursday of Friday and they are being investigated by the anti-terrorism squad of the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "SO13 is investigating a series of suspect packages recovered at a number of addresses associated with the legal system throughout the UK during the course of August 14 and 15."