Police evacuate Asda and blow up suspicious package

Police have carried out a controlled explosion at an Asda supermarket in south London after a "suspicious package" was found in a ladies toilet.

Officers in Sutton said they were investigating the item at a store branch in Beddington Lane, Croydon and warned people to avoid the area.

It was later revealed the package was a box of ceramic tiles wrapped in plastic.

An Asda spokeswoman confirmed the alarm was raised after the object was discovered in the ladies toilet and added it had been disposed of following an explosion.

She said: "I can confirm that the Asda Beddington Lane store was shut due to a suspicious package found in the ladies toilets.

"The store was immediately evacuated and the police contacted. A controlled explosion, with minimal damage, has been carried out by the police and the store will be reopened."

One Twitter user said they were forced to leave their bags at the checkout before the store was evacuated.

Shopper Nadine Cannon, 33, said the supermarket was cleared shortly before 4.30pm

She told the Standard: "Half way through the checkout process an alarm went off. The till was locked and we were asked to leave and not take our trolley with us.

"A few moments of hanging about outside a manager told us it would not be a five minute thing as a suspicious package was found.

"Police were outside with the red and white tape cordoning off the main entrance."