THE BOMB hoax in Rooksdown last week could be connected to a similar hoax in Festival Place earlier this year, police have said.

Officers rushed to Gander Drive on Thursday night after a suspicious package was discovered, and after residents were evacuated from their houses for several hours, the package was destroyed.

And now, after officers confirmed that they released under investigation the 21-year-old they had arrested on suspicion of the bomb hoax, they have confirmed that they are looking into the possibility that the incident is connected to the evacuation of Festival Place back in February.

"This is one line of enquiry we are working on at this time," a police spokesperson told the Gazette.

"The Festival Place incident is still under investigation."

Earlier this year, the shopping centre was evacuated and shut down for three hours as armed police and bomb disposal experts scoured the area after a fake device was found in the toilets near Wimpy's.

At the time, the police arrested a 20-year-old man, and he was released under investigation.