Putney High Street was sealed off on Friday after suspicious packages - allegedly bundles of banknotes with electronic devices attached - were found by workmen.

The High Street was closed for more than an hour at around midday on Friday between Lacy Road and Werter Road while bomb squad specialists analysed the suspected packages at the former Going Places shop.

One of the workmen, who did not want to be named, claimed to have found £2,000 in cash and said: "We found them in the basement and bought them up to the ground floor.

"We then flagged down a mounted police officer who looked at them and advised us to evacuate the building, which is when they shut down the high street.

"The bomb squad arrived and didn't seem to know what it was but said it was safe. Apparently they reckon it's a security device on the money."

A crowd of people gathered in the High Street to watch police and bomb disposal experts. The High Street was opened again at 1.15pm.

Going Places said the company had left the shop last year and it had no connection to the money, adding it was a police matter.

A Wandsworth police spokesman refused to confirm or deny the suspect package was cash strapped with devices.

Local shops were asked to close while police dealt with the incident.

Shop worker Ben Bayat, 17, of Dangerously Low Prices, said: "We were asked to close by an officer because they were investigating something.

"Then we weren't told to re-open we just did when members of the public walked past."

Another shopworker, who did not want to be named, said: "The police asked us to shut and either leave the building or go to the back to be safe, we left and just re-opened when we came back."