We are now ending our live coverage of this emergency incident. Thanks for following along.

Passengers across the rail network are continuing to weather the fall-out of the major police incident in Stockport tonight, with cancellations, diversions and delays of up to an hour.

People travelling on Avanti West Coast, East Midlands, Cross Country and Northern routes are still able to use their tickets on alternative routes. Click here to check if you’re eligible.

The “suspicious” suitcase that sparked the mass emergency response in Stockport this evening was not a legitimate threat, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.

A spokesperson for the force said the suitcase was found to be empty and that a three-hour emergency response had been stood down.

“Along with the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and other emergency services, we have been dealing with an incident on Greek Street in Stockport this evening after reports of a ‘suspicious’ item on a bridge,” a statement read.

“Forunately the ‘device’ has been examined and found to be an empty suitcase, and the cordons are being lifted. Thanks for everyone’s patience.”

Disruption in the Stockport area is expected to continue until the end of the day, National Rail says.

“Lines have now reopened following the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway at Stockport,” an update read. “Trains in the Stockport area may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes, revised or diverted as services return to normal. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”

Police vehicles are “starting to leave” Greek Street following an emergency response to a “suspicious suitcase” found near Stockport Station. Lines have just reopened after a largescale closure that has caused delays and cancellations across the rail network.

Train lines have now reopened through Stockport, but disruption is expected to continue while services resume.

Footage from the scene shows a number of police vehicles, alongside fire engines and an ambulance. Bomb disposal units have also been spotted.

Train services across the network have been delayed, diverted and held as a result of the emergency incident in Stockport.

A journey from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly missed all stops between Stoke-on-Trent and Piccadilly in a diversion route designed to avoid the disruption.

A passenger onboard an evening service to Piccadilly says the service “stopped in the pitch black” shortly after leaving Wilmslow, before they were “told of a potential bomb threat”.

Daniel Fitton told the MEN: “We got past Wilmslow and going towards Stockport when the train stopped in the pitch black.

“We then got the train manager on the radio saying there was a potential bomb threat, we wouldn’t be able to proceed through Stockport and to expect a long delay.

“After that he came back on and said it was a suspicious package on a bridge, and that we would be going back towards Wilmslow. We have now started moving along this route to Manchester Piccadilly.”

Panicked passengers and locals are “sheltering” in Stockport’s Army Reserve Centre, on nearby Armoury Street, and the Armoury Pub after being advised to do by the bomb disposal team, according to the MEN.

Avanti West Coast has urged all passengers to avoid Stockport due to “an incident currently under investigation”.

A spokesperson said: “Stockport station has been evacuated and all lines are currently blocked. Customers are advised not to travel to the station and check our website and social media for the latest updates.”

Liam Smith, who was in Stockport Interchange, a transport hub near the station, says police entered the area and “told people to evacuate” earlier this evening.

“I was told I had to evacuate Stockport bus interchange and it was chaos with people running,” he told the MEN.

“I was told I had to leave immediately. There was approximately 50 of us running out of the interchange, followed by the police. There was lots of panic and hurry.”

Passengers planning to travel on Northern Rail services have been told to avoid the line for the rest of the day.

The ‘do not travel’ warning applies to the following routes:

– Manchester Piccadilly to Chester

– Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke

– Manchester Piccadilly to Alderley Edge/Crewe

– Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove/Buxton

A spokesperson for the rail firm said: “Customers are advised to travel via any alternative route using the ticket acceptance we have in place. Our team are doing their best to source rail replacement buses, however availability is limited and may not be possible on all routes.”

Police have put an “extensive” cordon in place across the whole of Greek Street as bomb disposal units continue to respond to a “suspicious package” on a footbridge near the station, according to the MEN.

Stockport train station and a number of nearby homes have been evacuated as part of the largescale response to a “suspicious” package found on Greek Street.

Witnesses told the Manchester Evening News that the station has been evacuated alongside a number of homes on the street under a police cordon.

As well as Greek Street, Shaw Heath and Mercian Way have also been shut off.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal units are at the scene in Greek Street alongside police and the fire and rescue service. The large emergency service presence follows the discovery of a “suspicious” suitcase on a train station footbridge over the railway line.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just before 6pm this evening (Tuesday, 4th November), firefighters were called to reports of a suspicious item on Greek Street in Stockport.

“Two fire engines from Stockport and Whitehill fire stations, as well as the technical rescue unit from Ashton fire station, are currently at the scene where a suitcase has been left on the footbridge by Stockport railway station.

“Firefighters are working with Greater Manchester Police and Network Rail to make the area safe as they await the arrival of the bomb disposal unit. There is currently a 200m cordon around the scene and trains to and from Stockport station have been halted until further notice.”

Trains through Stockport will be revised, cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes until 10pm, according to National Rail.

Services have also been halted between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield in both directions.

The disruption is being caused by an ongoing emergency services incident which means “all lines are blocked”. Click here to check if you can use your ticket on an alternative route.

All services scheduled to travel through Stockport have been disrupted amid an ongoing police investigation into a “suspicious suitcase” found near the railway.

Good evening. Emergency services in Manchester have cordoned off the street near a railway station after reports of a “suspicious suitcase”.

Keep an eye on this page for updates as we get them.