A MAN has been charged with one count of bomb hoax after police cordoned off a street in Bristol for hours yesterday to search for 'suspicous packages' in a pub.

Michael Casey, aged 39, is due before Bristol Magistrates Court today and was remanded ahead of the hearing.

Officers have arrested Casey last night after spending most of Sunday searching for a bomb following a call from someone claiming to have left suspicious packages at a pub in Bedminster.

People within the pub and nearby properties were evacuated and a cordon was put in place while The Three Lions, in West Street, was searched after the call was made to police at 12.40pm.

Specialist teams completed those searches at approximately 9.15pm.

Officers then arrested Casey on suspicion of communicating false information in relation to an explosive device. 

Inspector Richard Lang said: “We’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding. We appreciate there will have been significant concern given the nature of the initial report to police – one that had to be taken seriously.

“We would like to reassure people there have been no items found that pose a risk to the public following searches by specialist teams. As such the cordon is in the process of being lifted.

“One man has been arrested in connection with this incident on suspicion of a false communication offence and he has been taken into custody.

“Additional reassurance patrols are due to be carried out in the area over the coming days and would advise anyone with ongoing concerns about this incident speaks to those officers.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 and quote reference number 5222243191. Or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously via its website or on 0800 555111.