POLICE were last night hunting for a hoaxer who caused a bomb scare at Oxford’s railway station.

An anonymous 999 caller claimed that a man carrying an explosive device was heading towards the station shortly after 11am yesterday.

People heading to and from the station were searched, while sniffer dogs and the Thames Valley Police helicopter were scrambled.

However, it later turned out that the call was a hoax and more than 30 police officers were stood down at about 1.30pm.

The man who the caller claimed had a bomb was found on a train, but he was not carrying any device.

The helicopter hovered above Frideswide Square while police officers guarded the entrances to the station.

Passengers at the station condemned the “sick hoax”.

Damien Brannan, 27, from Cowley, said he saw police rushing into the station.

He said: “Everyone was wondering what was happening, because all of a sudden there was a large police presence.

“There was an officer guarding every door in the station and you always worry in those situations, because it could be serious.

“If it was a hoax, it was a sick one, because it’s not really something to joke about.

“It must also cost the police a fortune to mount an operation like that.”

Rennuka Perera, from Barton, added: “We saw the helicopter in the sky as we arrived at the station.

“There were lots of police and there was a bit of confusion. We saw some people being searched.

“I thought it must be a hoax because, although there were lots of police around, the station was not evacuated, which you would think police would do immediately if it was a serious threat.”

Police were last night checking telephone records to try to trace the caller.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Chris Kearney said officers took all threats seriously.

He said: “A call at 11.11am alleged there was a man in possession of a bomb heading towards the station.

“We deployed officers to the scene and carried out a thorough search of the station and surrounding areas for this man or any suspicious packages.

“Officers maintained a presence at the station for two hours to ensure public safety was maintained.

“We searched passengers’ bags and the man in question was located by our colleagues at British Transport Police.

“He was not in possession of an explosive device.”

A spokesman for First Great Western said that train services using the station were not affected by the alert.