UK police evacuate Asda supermarket in southern England

LONDON (Reuters) - British police evacuated an Asda supermarket in Chelmsford, southern England, on Monday after reports that a suspicious package had been found.

The police said that they had contacted a ministry of defence explosives unit to examine the package.

"A cordon remains in place as a precaution and the store has been evacuated as a precaution," Essex Police said.

Asda, which is owned by U.S. retail giant Walmart, referred to the police statement when contacted by Reuters.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)