A LANDLORD is counting the cost after a bomb hoax evacuated his pub on what should have been one of his busiest nights of the year.

Customers left bar meals half-eaten as they hurried from the Red Lion in Hamworthy after a suspicious package was spotted next to a nearby war cenotaph.

Homes opposite were also evacuated as police sealed off part of Blandford Road near the junction with Lake Road for five hours whlie a bomb disposal team dealt with the object in the adjacent cemetery.

Simon Clarke, who runs the Red Lion, was preparing for a bumper Jubilee bank holiday evening when police alerted him and said he had to get everyone out of the pub just after 6pm on Monday.

"We had about 50 people who were eating meals and about the same number drinking. It was early evening. Had it been an hour later we would have been packed," he said.

An explosives team from Portsmouth used a shotgun to disarm the package which consisted of a box, clock, aerial and battery and was propped against the graveyard cenotaph.

The "bomb" turned out to be a hoax.

The all-clear was given at 11pm.

"I've probably lost about £2,000 in takings," said Simon.

"We had a karaoke planned and with the Jubilee bank holiday we expected it be even busier than usual.

"It is a big disappointment. I was looking forward to a really good night and it didn't happen.

"I've also lost out having to refund money to people who had paid for meals. A lot of them were tourists and holidaymakers," said Simon, who praised the prompt action of the police in dealing with the bomb scare. "I know some people are anti-Royalist but I can't see why anyone would want to have done this."

The Forbuoys newsagents next door was also cleared.

Insp John Hicks, of Gravel Hill police station, said: "Someone walking in the graveyard spotted the package. "The package was about six inches by four inches in a polystyrene case with an aerial and a clock attached. It was an elaborate hoax.

"It was an extremely irresponsible thing to have done."