Hyde Park Corner on lockdown as police investigate 'suspicious vehicle'

Hyde Park Corner station was placed on lockdown by police amid reports of a suspicious vehicle on Thursday evening.

The roads surrounding the central London tube station were also closed off while police assessed the vehicle.

Transport for London warned people to avoid the area and the station, which is always busy at Christmastime due to its proximity to Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland.

A controlled explosion was carried out and the incident was stood down, police said.

A Met Police spokesman said: “We were dealing with a suspicious vehicle in Hyde Park Corner from 2100hrs.

"A controlled explosion was carried out at around 2140hrs and the incident was stood down - road closures now lifted."

The roads began to be reopened soon after but with significant congestion.

Transport for London tweeted: "All road closures are now in the process of being removed. There's significant congestion in the area but this should now improve."

Elsewhere, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden was evacuated after a performance of Rigoletto had finished due to reports of a suspicious package.

Police said the building was evacuated as a precaution and the incident was stood down after the package was found to be non-suspicious.