Parts of Westminster were closed off on Thursday after a peer received racist hate mail containing white powder.

Lord Ahmed said he was concerned by the letter, particularly following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox in June.

The non-affiliated former Labour peer opened the "hate mail with some frightening stuff inside" in his office at Westminster.

He said: "Hate mail, I have had before, but this had some white powder. At first I didn't realise how serious it could be, so I threw it in the bin and washed my hands and shook off all the powder."

Lord Ahmed then realised the potential threat posed by the letter and drew it to the attention of the parliamentary security staff.

He then went to the peers' terrace overlooking the Thames when he was called by security staff who told him not to move while specialist police units investigated to see if the powder was "chemical or biological material".

Lord Ahmed told the Press Association: "Thank God it was OK and all I can say is thank you to all the fantastic staff and Black Rod's team, who acted so swiftly.

"What happened to my colleague Jo Cox, one needs to be aware that these type of things can happen."

A Lords spokesman said: "The peers' car park and parts of the terrace were closed temporarily but have now been reopened.

"The closure was put in place while a package containing a white powder was investigated by specialist police units, which is standard procedure. The powder was found to be non-harmful."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 12.30pm to reports of a suspicious package delivered to the Houses of Parliament.

"The contents have been deemed non-suspicious and there are no reports of any injuries."