A Forgotten briefcase left on an Epping underground station platform sparked a two-hour security alert during rush hour yesterday.

A British Transport Police spokesman confirmed the incident.

He said: "BTP officers were called to Epping London Underground station on Thursday 18 June after receiving a report of an unattended bag on a Central line train."

"The incident was reported to police at 3.41pm. BTP officers searched the bag and it was cleared as non-suspicious, with no cause for alarm.”

Travellers faced widespread disruption for two hours as police investigated the suspicious case.