A bomb squad was mobilised in Taiwan after a suspicious package was found in a subway station toilet – but they found it only contained mooncakes.

A cleaner called police about a package left on top of a waste bin in a station in the southern city of Kaohsiung on Saturday.

Part of the station was cordoned off and experts were called in.

A police officer entered the toilet carrying specialist equipment while other officers waited outside.

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The officer emerged with a bright blue cardboard box, containing mooncakes, which are pastries with sweet fillings made for Taiwan’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

Local police station chief Cheng Ming-chung said: "It was x-rayed first to see what it was and whether there was any chemical or electrical reaction.

"Someone must have put it down to use the toilet and forgotten it when they left."

He added that police would continue to investigate.