Building evacuated and road shut off by police over suspicious package near Buckingham Palace

Police say they were called to the scene just after 3pm

File image of Grosvenor Place near Buckingham Palace in London (Google Streetview)

Police have closed off a road and evacuated and office building amid reports of a suspicious package near Buckingham Palace in London.

Workers said they were prevented from returning to offices on Grosvenor Place while police dealt with the incident.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police told The Independent officers were called to the building at 3.10pm.

"Officers remain at the scene dealing with the incident," she said.

A number of travel services reported disruption as a result of the road closure, while some people said on social media they had been advised to avoid the area in question.

Josh Moulder, 21, told the Evening Standard: "Grosvenor Place is blocked off at Hyde Park Corner and there is tape just past Chapel Street heading to Victoria station.

“Police wouldn't let my colleagues who were at 4 Grosvenor Place walk down to our head office at 15 Grosvenor Place," he said.