EXCLUSIVE: Photos of the suspicious package that was blown up in Leighton

The discovery of the box by Santander in Hockliffe Street caused the road, as well as parts of Hockliffe Road, North Street, Lake Street, and the High Street to be closed for several hours.

The military-style box was first discovered at around 8.10am outside the bank – the scene of a dramatic ramraid on February 15.

One of the workmen repairing the Santander site, who discovered the package, was Aaron Kenehan.

He took the photos of the box which show warnings of ‘fuses’ and ‘detonators’, plus apparent serial numbers.

As the crowd shivered in the cold, a loud explosion was heard at 10.37am as the bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on the suspicious parcel.

Police have now confirmed the package was never a threat and roads reopened at 11.08am.

See Tuesday’s LBO for more on this story, including interviews with people who discovered the box.