A HOTEL was evacuated for nearly two hours after a receptionist found a suspect package. The worker at Premier Travel Inn in Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage, became alarmed last Thursday morning after discovering an envelope addressed to a person whose name s

A HOTEL was evacuated for nearly two hours after a receptionist found a suspect package.

The worker at Premier Travel Inn in Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage, became alarmed last Thursday morning after discovering an envelope addressed to a person whose name she did not recognise.

Hotel general manager Sue Baker said: "The receptionist phoned over and said we'd had the post delivered and there was a package delivered to someone who wasn't staying at the Travel Inn.

"I said to give the local police station a ring and see what they say, and the next thing I know they are here."

After the police arrived they evacuated the hotel and cordoned off the car park.

Staff were told to remain in the adjacent Beefeater.

After establishing that the addressee was not staying at another Travel Inn, they examined the package - a deep brown envelope just bigger than A4 size - and it was found to be a computer power pack.

The all-clear was given at about 12.30pm and staff were allowed to go back into the hotel, which was expected to be full that night.

It is still unclear why the parcel was delivered to the Travel Inn.

After the incident Ms Baker said: "The police officer said: 'Please don't worry at all that you phoned us, we'd rather be safe than sorry. It's better to be cautious'."

The alert followed the news that nationally a seventh parcel bomb in three weeks had exploded, this time at the DVLA centre in Swansea.