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8,000 Flee Bomb Scare
EIGHT thousand people were evacuated from a packed community festival in Sheffield after reports of a suspect package sparked a bomb scare.
Organisers and police ordered everyone out of Abbeyfield Park, Burngreave, after the force apparently received more than one warning.
Vendors were forced to abandon stalls and join thousands of revellers, many with young children, who surged towards the exits.
Eyewitnesses said some people resorted to jumping walls when a crush briefly developed but it is believed everyone cleared the park safely within half an hour of the announcement just after 4pm yesterday. Police sealed off surrounding streets causing traffic chaos.
Abbeyfield Festival is one of Sheffield's largest one-day events with 60 full-time and 30 part-time organisers working over six months, assisted by 100 volunteers. It boasts three music stages, dozens of performers and scores of stalls.
A South Yorkshire police spokesman said: "Abbeyfield Park was evacuated after reports of a suspect package. The park was searched but nothing was found. We take all such reports seriously and we have to be extra vigilant particularly in light of the attack in London last week."
Event co-ordinator Bob Worm said they received more than one warning of a suspect package at around the same time. "Our evacuation procedures were launched and I'm pleased with the way everyone left so quickly. The Bomb Squad was not called in, but sniffer dogs were used."
John Watts, who was on the Burngreave Church on the Rock stall, said people had heightened awareness of an incident after the terrorist attacks in London.
He added: "We were aware there could be difficulties. When events
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
