The bomb disposal squad was called out to Tynes Bay incinerator on Monday following a report that a crate of dynamite had been left as household garbage.

But the suspicious package turned out to be candles.

Works and Engineering department Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns confirmed that workers had reacted swiftly to what they wrongly believed to be dangerous refuse.

?What?s possible was that it might have been a prop for a play because they were wrapped and there was some wire coming out resembling fuses,? Dr. Binns said.

He could not say where precisely the candles were picked up ? only that it was on a regular household garbage collection route in the western parishes.

?It did cause some concern. If it was dynamite it would have been very dangerous.?

The package was spotted just before it was about to be put in the garbage stream at the incinerator.

?The good side is that staff was vigilant, saw something suspicious and acted appropriately,? Dr. Binns said.