Firefighters and Police gave a Code Red response yesterday to a reports of a suspicious package containing white powder at the East End apartment of a US Immigration official.

The anthrax scare was immediately given the most serious response and a full emergency unit despatched.

Firemen, dressed in full body protective suits and using breathing apparatus, evacuated the condos in Convict Bay Lane, St. George's, soon after 9 a.m. after one of the residents called Police with information about the suspect delivery.

The woman, a US citizen living in the block, told officers she had opened the envelope, which was marked with an American Express logo, to find the powder inside.

She immediately put the envelope to one side and called for help, making her complaint yesterday the 13th report of a suspicious package in Bermuda since the terrorist attacks on America on September 11.

When the three fire appliances and two Police vehicles arrived at the quiet cul-de-sac, where former US President Jimmy Carter's son Jack now lives, the road was cordoned off and the block of apartments at the centre of the scare evacuated.

Residents stood outside the condos while officers went inside and located the substance. After some time they brought the envelope out, contained inside a massive protective metal drum.

Fire officers who had been in the close vicinity of the package then had to rinse off their yellow overalls, which did not look dissimilar to space suits, under a portable shower in the street.

And only after the fire engines and suspicious substance had left the area did Police re-open the road, again and allowed people back into their homes.

The substance was yesterday with analysts for identification, but it was x-rayed and deemed to be clear of any potential explosive device.

However, as of last night, Police were unable to confirm any results of the tests for biological agents.

A Police spokesman said: "Due to the nature of the description, Fire Services despatched two units, and Police units also attended. The package had been secured by the caller and the responding units were able to retrieve it from the scene, and will subject it to thorough testing as the day progresses. "We will release further updates as they become available."

But he said there was nothing so far to connect the envelope or the incident to findings of anthrax, or anthrax threats, in the US.

The woman who reported the suspicious package to Police yesterday did not want to say anything about the incident when asked by The Royal Gazette.

But a neighbour living next door to the woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is an anthrax scare. I think she received the package yesterday or last night. I don't know when she opened it.

"She was obviously very concerned, and is very upset. It was a shock."

And resident Christian Smith, 18, said he woke up yesterday morning to find the cul-de-sac cordoned off and men in yellow overalls walking around.

He added: "I didn't hear a thing. I just woke up and saw everybody outside. It surprised me.

"I believe a woman living in one of the high rises had something suspicious delivered to her. It's quiet around here. You don't expect this kind of thing when you wake up."