Suspicious package blown up outside French football team's hotel hours before Euro 2016 final

The area outside the Equipede Hotel was sealed off at around 17:00 local time before a controlled explosion was carried out

French police carried out a controlled explosion in Paris outside the France team hotel (Getty)

A controlled explosion has been carried out by police in Paris outside the hotel where the France national team are staying after a suspicious package was found, hours before the Euro 2016 final.

The area outside the Equipede Hotel, where the France national team are staying ahead of tonight’s Stade de France final, was evacuated by police when a suspicious package was found, less than four hours before the Euro 2016 final between France and Portugal.

Police secured the area before a bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on the suspicious package.

The news comes amid reports that the celebratory parade, should France beat Portugal in the final, has been cancelled due to safety fears.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol posted a picture from the vicinity of the Equipede Hotel where a bomb squad could be seen attending to the suspicious package. Solhekol confirmed that a loud explosion was heard at around 17:38 local time [16:38 BST], which he added “sound [sic] like controlled explosion”.

The road outside the hotel was closed by police, but was soon reopened once the controlled explosion had been carried out and it was confirmed that there were no explosives found inside the bag.

France face Portugal in the final of the European Championship this evening with kick-off at 9pm local time.