POLICE have named a Widnes man charged with bomb hoax over a ‘suspicious package’ incident in Runcorn.

A large emergency service presence was reported near to Runcorn Shopping City on Wednesday afternoon, including marked and unmarked police cars.

This was due to an incident on Crown Gate, with a military bomb disposal squad in attendance and a police cordon in place from around 2.30pm.

In a statement on the day, Cheshire Police confirmed its attendance at the scene and that enquiries were ongoing.

Yesterday, Thursday, the force issued an update confirming that a man from Widnes had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Today, Friday, a spokesman has confirmed that a Widnes man has now been charged over the incident.

They said: “Officers investigating a bomb hoax in Runcorn have charged a man in relation to the incident.

“At 2.30pm on Wednesday, November 20, police were called to reports that a suspicious package had been left at an address on Crown Gate, Runcorn.

“Explosive ordnance disposal attended the scene, and it was established that the item was not suspicious.

“Following enquiries, a 50-year-old man from Widnes was arrested in relation to the matter.

“Geoffrey Rush, of Edinburgh Road, Widnes, has since been charged with bomb hoax communicating false information.

“Rush has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Chester Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, November 22.”