LATEST: Man bailed over '˜suspicious packages' at surgery near Downham Market

The 38-year-old, who was first detained on Thursday afternoon, was released last night, just hours after officers had been given more time to question him.

Police say he has been bailed to report back to officers in late February.

The man, who is from the Downham area, was initially taken to the police investigation centre at Saddlebow, on the outskirts of Lynn,, but was later transferred to a similar facility in Bury St Edmunds.

Officers were initially called to the surgery in Chapel Road shortly before 7.30am on Thursday after the packages were found.

A force spokesman said staff had reported finding canisters and damage to the foyer.

A 100 metre cordon was set up around the building as police and bomb disposal experts examined the items. The road was closed until around 2.30pm.

The force said: “No one was injured during this incident and we would like to reassure local residents that we do not believe that there was, at any point, a wider threat to members of the public.”

Earlier in the day, a nearby resident, who came to pick up a prescription but was turned away, spoke of her shock at the news.

Pamela Bowling, from Stoke Ferry, “Somebody stopped me up the lane and said you won’t get through as there are police there.

“I think it’s terrible. You do wonder when its a surgery and dispenser as it is what people are after.

“We have to come up by car as its a long walk from Stoke Ferry. I believe there is a system whereby if you have a prescription then you can pick it up from the post office, but as we’ve got transport we don’t use it.

Mrs Bowling, who has been using the doctors for about 14 years with her husband, said that four doctors and six other staff worked at the surgery.