DOZENS of shoppers were evacuated after a false alarm in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre today.

The alarm was caused by a faulty smoke head outside the shopping centre.

Eyewitnesses reported shoppers being evacuated shortly after 4pm for between 10-20 minutes.

One shopper said that a message instructing customers to evacuate due to an 'emergency' came through the public address system.

A fire engine arrived at the scene but left shortly afterwards.

The centre has since reopened.

Marie Gribben, manager at the Mill Gate centre, said: "It was a false alarm caused by a faulty smoke head.

"It was actually just outside the centre but all the systems are linked so we had to get everyone out.

"The fire service arrived and they were quite satisfied that it was a false alarm."