People have been asked to avoid the entrance to the Gledhow Wing of St James's Hospital, which houses the majority of its maternity services, including the delivery suite.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a 27-year-old man had been arrested at the scene, which is around one mile from Leeds city centre.

The force said: "Emergency services were called to a potentially suspicious package outside the Gledhow Wing of St James's Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds earlier this morning.

"A cordon has been put in place as a precautionary measure for public safety and army specialists are in attendance to make an assessment in line with normal procedures.

"People are asked to avoid the entrance to the Gledhow Wing at this time while the cordon remains in place."

A patient on the respiratory ward told the Yorkshire Post: "We have all been moved out of our rooms onto the corridors and into the staff rooms."

The police statement continued: "As a safety precaution, some people have been evacuated from the immediate vicinity.

"Emergency department at St James's remains open, and patients are asked to attend outpatient appointments as normal unless contacted otherwise."

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The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that police had evacuated numerous wards and that a cordon would remain in place.

It said: "Patients are being asked to attend hospital as normal for appointments, unless they are contacted otherwise.

"Visiting for patients who are currently in Gledhow Wing and Lincoln Wing at St James's Hospital is suspended until we have more information."