Tube station shut and offices evacuated as police probe 'suspicious vehicle'

Pic:Hundreds of office workers stand in the street behind police cordon 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

Hundreds of workers were cleared from offices and a Tube station was shut while police officers investigated a suspicious vehicle in north London.

The Met police were called to reports of a "suspicious vehicle" on Ballard Lane in Finchley Central around 10am.

A cordon was set up in order to keep members of the public at distance and the road has been blocked in all directions.

Finchley Central station, on the Northern Line, was also evacuated and closed down while the operation was carried out.

Witnesses reported seeing huge crowds of people being led from their offices. Natalie Bowen wrote: "Alleged bomb scare in Finchley Central - they've evacuated lots of buildings and there's police and fire engines.

She added: "Lots of people milling about on Ballards Lane, Finchley - police cordon is blocking off road as far as Joiners Arms."

British Transport Police confirmed the station was closed "due to a police incident in the vicinity".

The cordon was reportedly lifted at around 10.45am.