A terrorist alert hit the Crewe Chronicle last week as police took away a suspect envelope which appeared to be filled with powder.

Staff raised the alarm fearing the brown envelope could contain deadly anthrax spores, and the newspaper’s office in the High Street was evacuated as police isolated the envelope.

The envelope was taken to the Public Health Laboratory Sevice in Chester, but after further inspection, it was found to contain shredded tissue paper.

Chronicle reporter Dave Fox said: “The envelope contained shredded tissue paper, which appeared to be powder. It was obviously somebody’s idea of a practical joke.”

The envelope was delivered at 11am, and staff at the Royal Mail sorting office had already taken the precaution of sealing it in a polythene bag.

Sorters sought advice from the company’s security officials in London, and were told to place it in a Royal Mail sealed bag and deliver to the customer – the Chronicle – with a ‘health warning.’

On delivery reception staff were told it had been deemed as suspicious and it was up to them if they wanted to report it to the police.

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