A device similar to those planted by the so-called Mardi Gra bomber has been found near a Sainsbury's supermarket in London.

Guards spotted the device close to the store entrance in Chiswick High Road and immediately contacted police.

The store was evacuated and surrounding streets cordoned off while it was made safe, a police spokeswoman said.

The Mardi Gra bomber claimed responsibility for 25 incidents during a campaign against Barclays Bank, which ended in a blast outside a branch in West Ealing, London, in April 1996.

In his first letter to Barclays, the extortionist used the phrase "Welcome to the Mardi Gra", which has been used in subsequent correspondence.

Since November 1997 the bomber has been blamed for five devices placed in or near Sainsbury's stores after making a £500,000 blackmail bid.

Three were found at west London Sainsbury's stores on November 15.

One person was injured in an explosion at the Ealing branch. A package was made safe at another store, in South Ruislip, and fire crews were called to a branch in Greenford after a small explosion.

Two explosive devices were also found near Sainsbury's stores in south London on November 25.

One exploded in Chislehurst and another was found unexploded at a store in nearby Lee Green an hour later.

In December 1997 a device was made safe after it was accidentally taken home by a 73-year-old woman from a supermarket in west London.

Police believe the woman picked up the bag after confusing it with one of her own while waiting at a bus stop.

The Mardi Gra bomber's campaign to blackmail companies began in December 1994 when six devices, wrapped in Christmas paper and packed in video boxes, were delivered to Barclays Bank branches in London.

In Hampstead and Ladbroke Grove the bombs exploded, injuring two members of staff. The attack was followed by a blackmail demand.

Another bomb, left near a Barclays cash point machine in west London, exploded and injured three passers-by in 1996.

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