POLICE have refused to confirm if white powder - which sparked an anthrax scare at a post sorting office - was attached to a parking fine.

However, they have said the powder, which triggered a four-hour evacuation of the main Royal Mail sorting office in Witney Road on the Nuffield Industrial Estate, was a "household substance".

Postal workers called the police at about 7.30pm on Friday April 29 after they discovered the package. Several officers attended, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialists and remained at the sorting office until gone 1am on Saturday.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, claimed the powder was found with a parking ticket that was addressed to a council.

Police would not confirm this but said the envelope was on its way to Weymouth and was "with other documents".

Inspector Rob Snowden, from Poole police station, said: "We have a line of inquiry and will be following it up.

"We will be making inquiries into why the powder was in the envelope."

He added: "The white powder is household type. It is not harmful to anyone."

Police in Poole said they would be taking a tough stance on hoaxers found to be putting white powder through the post.

Since September 11 there has been a fear of anthrax - a rare infection, which can be fatal - being used by terrorists as a biological weapon.

First published: May 6