Search continues as hundreds of workers at Virgin evacuated on Teesside after 'suspicious package' call (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Search continues as hundreds of workers at Virgin evacuated on Teesside after 'suspicious package' call
1:19pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News
By Matt Westcott
The scene in Middlesbrough that had been evacuated because of a suspicious package arriving at Virgin Media. Picture- Leslie Grace
AROUND 300 workers at a Virgin Media centre on Teesside were evacuated this morning after reports of a suspicious package were received.
Both the Virgin premises on Preston Farm, Stockton, close to the A66, and the company's store in Middlesbrough town centre were affected.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "Searches are still continuing at the Virgin Media Contact Centre in Stockton, Virgin Media retail premises and the retail space at the Cleveland Centre.
"The searches are taking place with assistance from our Dog Unit. At this stage nothing untoward has been found."
Staff from businesses close to the contact centre at the Preston Farm Industrial Estate in Stockton have also been evacuated.
Chief Superintendent Glenn Gudgeon, of Cleveland Police, said this afternoon: “Nothing untoward has been located, however searches are continuing.
"I appreciate this may cause disruption to staff and the general public, but I would ask for patience while we continue to investigate. We are working to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.”
A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “A number of offices, including Virgin Media’s, in the area have been evacuated before lunchtime Tuesday.
"The police have been conducting searches as is standard procedure.”
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