'Potentially dangerous' substance which led to evacuation was simple baking powder

[dutchman]

Officers cordoned the street off and evacuated the nearby area



Police have discovered the 'potentially dangerous' contents of a letter found near Coventry Canal Basin were nothing more than a simple household item.

Officers, firefighters and paramedics rushed to Leicester Row in Coventry earlier this evening after a letter was found containing white powder.

They then set up a large cordon in the area while a premises nearby was evacuated of its staff - and an eyewitness said they had seen people being given oxygen at the scene.

However, chemical experts have now analysed the substance and determined that the 'white powder' was in fact just baking powder.

Earlier this evening, a spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "A building on Leicester Row has been evacuated after a letter was found containing white powder."

In an updated statement, they revealed the contents of the letter: "It was found to be baking powder."

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent out two paramedics and HART paramedics as they believed the contents of the letter to be 'dangerous.'