Fire services and police spent more than half an hour at a Napier law firm this morning, giving a local lawyer the perfect excuse for being late to court.
Napier lawyer Philip Ross was representing a man in the Napier District Court for a sentencing set down for 11am.
However, when the man was called before Judge Geoff Rea, Mr Ross wasn't present and the judge moved on to deal with other matters.
More than half an hour later the lawyer arrived and Judge Rea pointedly asked him where he had been at 11am.
In explanation Mr Ross said he had been held up in his office, Cathedral Lane Law, with police and fire services after he had received a "suspicious package".