A Metropolitan Police bomb disposal robot destroyed a box of Labour MPs’ unsent Christmas cards that had triggered a lockdown around Parliament.

Roads around Parliament Square were blocked off by police at about 07.30 GMT on Thursday to allow the robot to inspect a package that had been left in Victroria Tower Gardens.

Officers confirmed the item was non-suspicious following an investigation and the area was reopened an hour later.

Remnants found at the site included parts of Christmas cards decorated with pictures drawn by children intended for Labour MPs and constituency offices, some bearing MPs’ addresses.

Sky News reported some of the cards were in a box bearing the name of Housing Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.

Scraps of paper seen by the BBC show some were addressed to Housing Committee Chair Florence Eshalomi.

Both MPs have been approached for comment.

Police do not comment on packages that have been declared safe.

It is not unusual for unattended packages to lead to road closures around Parliament, a heavily congested – and heavily policed – part of London.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson said he was not aware of the incident.

Santa Claus has yet to comment.