A MISLAID pair of shoes sparked a mid-afternoon bomb scare, causing pandemonium in Wood Green.

The area was thrown into disarray after a mystery parcel was spotted by security staff at the High Road branch of Natwest Bank at around 3pm on Tuesday.

Within minutes of an emergency telephone call, police officers cordoned off the immediate and surrounding area ? throwing the busy shopping locality into chaos.

A Natwest Bank spokesman said: 'As a precaution the bank was evacuated.

'We took the precaution with the advice of the police to be vigilant.'

A bomb disposal team was deployed and the area was given the all clear at 5pm after the suspect package was found to be a parcel containing a pair of shoes.

DI Simon Thomas of Tottenham Police said: 'Someone mislaid some personal property and a considerable amount of resources were used. The issue of compensation will be considered.'

He added: 'We advise people to take care of personal property and make sure they take it away with them.'

Hundreds of afternoon shoppers were sent packing as police carried out a mass evacuation of the area.

Stores including Safeways supermarket ushered customers out to safety and closed their doors until the all-clear was given.

And patrons of the area's many drinking establishments were stunned as landlords were forced to temporarily call time.

Wood Green's One Stop Shop, yards from the suspected bomb, was cleared and shut down for the day.

But bookworms had more joy at Wood Green Central library.

Throughout the bedlam, library users were able to use the facilities by using a rear door.

Claudette Franklin, a supervisor at Yates's Wine Lodge, said: 'We obviously lost a lot of trade ? normally we have a steady flow at that time.

'At first the police said people could stay but then they said we had to evacuate the building.'

Thousands of motorists and public transport passengers were also frustrated as Wood Green effectively became a no-go area.

Wood Green Underground station was closed for nearly two hours on police advice.

Tube trains were ordered to pass straight through the station between 3.24pm until normal service resumed at 5.04pm.

Motorists had their journey times increased as the Wood Green area reached gridlock.

Even an hour after the all clear had been given, commuters had their journeys extended in some cases by more than an hour.

By 6pm, traffic jams had spread to Hornsey, Crouch End and Muswell Hill.