ARMED police were at Ipswich railway station today as the UK remains on critical alert in the face of terrorist threat. Two officers were seen patrolling the station during the morning rush hour as part of increased security across the UK, though police stressed today that the town was not considered a specific target by terrorists.

ARMED police were at Ipswich railway station today as the UK remains on critical alert in the face of terrorist threat.

Two officers were seen patrolling the station during the morning rush hour as part of increased security across the UK, though police stressed today that the town was not considered a specific target by terrorists.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “At this stage, there is no intelligence to link the incidents in London and Glasgow to Suffolk.

“As a precautionary measure, all police officers and police community support officers have been briefed about these incidents and told to be extra vigilant while out on patrol in the community.

“In line with forces nationwide, the constabulary is conducting extra high visibility patrols - and all forces nationwide have been specifically requested to conduct armed patrols at transport centres, such as mainline railway stations.”

In a separate development Norfolk's chief constable Ian McPherson yesterday approved the use of new powers authorising uniformed officers to stop and search anybody acting suspiciously at key industrial, commercial and tourist sites, other forces in East Anglia are expected to also introduce the powers.

Officers at Ipswich station were yesterday checking cars as part of a drive to reassure passengers heading off by train that security had been stepped up.

Drivers were being checked as they dropped off passengers on the station forecourt following on from the attempt to bomb Glasgow airport terminal at the weekend.

The checks came on the same day that bomb disposal experts were called to Stansted Airport after concerns were raised about a suspect bag.

Large parts of the terminal were closed off just after 7pm when the bag was found near the entrance.

A man was arrested shortly after returning to the bag but Army bomb disposal experts concluded that there was nothing suspicious about the bag.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police confirmed that the Ipswich station operation was part of an effort to reassure passengers, rather than a response to any specific threat.

Do armed police and security sweeps make you feel safer? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk