Patients and doctors have been evacuated from the Whittington Hospital after police were called to a bomb scare today (Tuesday).

A&E was cleared out after a suspect package was found at the hospital near Highgate at around 2pm. Police say it is a “precautionary” measure.

Met Police officers are at the scene and have cordoned off Highgate Hill, Dartmouth Park Hill and Magdala Avenue.

Eyewitness Mario Kurt said: “There was a helicopter hovering overhead and police are everywhere. We heard there was a suspicious package that has been found.”

A spokesman for Whittington Health, which runs the hospital, said: “A suspect package was left in the accident department and as a precaution we have evacuated the building and a 100 metre cordon is in place around the building. I also understand we have the bomb squad in attendance.”