A BASINGSTOKE man is angry the police put the phone down on him during a 999 call when he complained they were doing nothing about a suspicious suitcase at the Top of the Town.

David Flower, a 53-year-old bus driver, told The Basingstoke Extra: "I can't believe that they did that - put the phone down on me while I was making a 999 call.

"I called 999 because, after two hours, nothing had been done and I got very irate. We have had recent bomb scares in the town and a body was found in a suitcase in Basingstoke a while back. Who was to know what was in it? It was a big case and could have contained a very large bomb."

The suitcase was discovered at 8.30am on Monday last week, when Mr Flower's partner, Wendy Dodoo, inspected the open yard at the rear of Ink Xpress, her workplace in Church Street, Basingstoke.

Mr Flower, of Chesterfield Road, Black Dam, said the phone was put down on him after he told a Pc that the police should get themselves to the site. Mrs Dodoo said she rang 999 twice after being kept waiting on the routine police phone line.

She said: "I was standing here thinking there could be anything in that case - a bomb or a baby - something horrible."

Eventually, two police officers arrived at 10.50am, but after checking the case, they found it contained only two notepads and a few other items including a pair of socks.

Though relieved, Mrs Dodoo said: "It's not good enough." Liz Walsh, Basingstoke police media services officer, said Mrs Dodoo had told the control room that she had "no reason to believe the suitcase was suspicious". It was therefore given a grade three rating, which requires a two-hour response.

She added Mr Flower, who rang at 10.08am, had been told that he should not be ringing 999 to complain as it was a misuse of the 999 service. She said the couple had seemed satisfied with explanations when officers rang them back separately to explain procedures.

She continued: "If we responded within 20 minutes to every call about a bag left here and there, it would mean the train station would be closed all day. You have to judge every incident on its merits."