LATEST: Suspect Allenwood package declared a hoax after armed gardai seal off village

A Garda lockdown of Allenwood village has been stood down after a suspect package left outside a business premises was declared a hoax.

Gardai had sealed off all local roads as the Army's bomb disposal squad rushed to the scene and officers from the Armed Support Unit patrolled the area as a precaution.

The alarm was raised after 1pm after a suspicious package was spotted outside a business premises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhJ0gGDz68Q&feature=youtu.be

VIDEO: Allenwood returning to normal immediately after the lockdown was stood down.

The dramatic alert led to a major major garda and security operation in the area for more than an hour.

A cordon was placed around the village and people were asked to keep back from the area.

Several people in nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution as the suspect package was carefully examined by the bomb disposal squad.

However the small parcel was later declared a hoax and the emergency operation was officially stood down.

All roads in the locality have now been reopened and traffic is getting back to normal.