Neighbours have described their shock at the discovery of a suspected package bomb delivered to a North Finchley house this morning.

The suspicious package was posted through the letterbox of the family home in Woodside Park Road before police were called at 9.55am.

A young couple and a child were evacuated along with the occupants of at least five neighbouring properties.

Rene Bannebaigt, 57, who lives next to the house, said: “It was shocking, we were out at the time and when we came back we weren’t allowed in for two or three hours.”

Sharada Osman, 39, lives opposite and looked after the young couple’s child after the evacuation.

She said: “I saw the police all morning and then they knocked at my door telling me to stay inside. They told me to stay at the back of the house as they had found a suspicious package. I thought: ‘my gosh’.”

John Cooper, 65, of nearby Woodside Avenue said he would be more concerned if he felt there was an obvious reason for Finchley to be targeted.

He said: “I am wondering whether to take out terrorism insurance, though I’m not that worried because I don’t think anyone would try and blow me up.

“If it proves to be a genuine threat then I will be surprised."

One woman from a nearby hostel who didn’t want to be named added: “My boyfriend couldn’t get in to visit me because of the bomb scare. It has messed up my day and it messed up his day.

“He is autistic so things changing upsets him. I was worried what effect this might have on him.”