More than 2,500 people were evacuated from London’s Royal Opera House after a « suspicious package » was found.

An announcement asking the cast and opera-goers to leave the area was made « on the final chord » of Thursday’s performance of Rigoletto and cut short the curtain call.

Police were called to the Covent Garden venue at 21:39 GMT and later deemed the package safe. The evacuation was described as « orderly » and « calm » on social media.

Michael Fabiano, who plays the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, tweeted: « There was an orderly evacuation immediately on the final chord due to a ‘fire emergency’ which later matured into a bomb scare. « I was able to greet most of the public in my full costume in Covent Garden. »

One guest described the evacuation as an « unexpected drama added to an already brilliant Rigoletto », while another praised the « calm and professional » operation.

Another opera-goer expressed his regret performers were not given a « proper curtain call ». A spokeswoman for the venue said the auditorium seats 2,256 people and was full at the time.

The Metropolitan Police said it carried out the evacuation « as a precaution » and deemed the package non-suspicious at 22:35. Audience members were then allowed back into the venue to collect their belongings.

Shortly before the incident in Covent Garden, officers carried out a controlled explosion at 21:40 on a « suspicious vehicle » at Hyde Park Corner.