A police dog after the match was abandoned. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - A suspicious item discovered at Old Trafford stadium on Sunday was a training device, police have confirmed.

The Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth was abandoned after a "incredibly lifelike" device was found shortly before kick-off.

Assistant chief constable John O'Hare from Greater Manchester Police said: "Following today's controlled explosion, we have since found out that the item was a training device which had accidentally been left by a private company following a training exercise involving explosive search dogs."

"While this item did not turn out to be a viable explosive, on appearance this device was as real as could be," he said.

It was the Sir Alex Ferguson North Stand and the Stretford End that were evacuated at about 2:30 pm - equating to more than half the 75,600-seater stadium. And a bomb disposal team carried out the explosion at about 16:30 local time.

The match has been rearranged for Tuesday.