HOAX BOMB SCARE AT UTTOXETER

A bomb scare at Uttoxeter racecourse today was described as a hoax.

Around 5,000 racegoers were evacuated following a security alert after a caller purporting to be from an Irish terrorist group rang the course to say a bomb had been planted in the stands.

Four of the six scheduled races had been completed and the fifth, the stanleybet.co.uk Handicap Chase, was under way when a course announcement urged the crowd to leave the main grandstand and betting ring.

Police and security officers at the Staffordshire track ushered people from the bars and refreshment areas as a sweep was made before sniffer dogs were brought in to complete the check.

Staffordshire police said no suspect device had been located at the course and that a time limit set by the caller had passed without incident.

Rod Street, general manager of the course, said: 'We`ve been given the all-clear. The police are going home.

'No device was found. It appears to have been a hoax.'

Explaining the decision to evacuate Street said: 'We had a bomb warning which we had to take seriously due to the persistent nature of the calls.

'Four calls in a row were made giving a precise location and a code was given.

'Public safety comes first.'

Racegoers were requested to leave the course completely and return to their cars.

As they did so the owner of the track Sir Stanley Clarke CBE, who was knighted in the New Year`s Honours List, described the need to evacuate as a 'shame'.

'It`s great pity this sort of thing happens as people are enjoying themselves,' he said.

'Everything has been spoiled, it`s a great shame.'

A spokesman for Staffordshire police: 'A number of calls were made to Uttoxeter racecourse throughout the afternoon.

'In the final call the caller indicated a code which the management took seriously and made the decision to evacuate the course.

'We had a number of officers there. Our sergeant and four officers helped with the evacuation.

'Within an hour the course was clear and during this time the officers made a search of a location that had been cited by the caller.

'We cannot comment on any group that might have been behind the call unless we can prove its authenticity.

'Staffordshire police did not receive the call therefore we are not in a position to say. It was a code the management of the racecourse took seriously, but we cannot be more specific than that.'

Racing has been seen to be increasingly vulnerable to these kind of alerts in recent years.

Most infamously the 1997 Martell Grand National was cancelled due to a security alert, the race eventually being run two days later.

Racing at Kempton on December 27 1999 was abandoned after the Pertemps King George VI Chase following a car bomb threat.

And the meeting at Ascot on October 7th last year was abandoned after just one race because of a coded telephone warning.

Street was full of praise for the reaction of racegoers to the alert.

'As usual the public were brilliant and responded to our request by evacuating promptly and courteously,' he added.

'I now know the frustrations they had at Kempton and Ascot.'

The public are asked to phone the course on 01889 562561 tomorrow with regard to collecting any personal belongings.