NORTHWICH came to a standstill at lunchtime today following a security alert at a busy town centre restaurant.

A bomb disposal unit was called to McDonald's, on High Street, shortly after noon and carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package inside the building.

Businesses and shops between Lavin's Wine Bar, on High Street, and the Crown pub, on Crown Street, were evacuated for just under two hours, from around 11.15am, while police carried out an investigation.

The security cordon was lifted at 1.10pm after officers declared the scene safe.