A full-scale fire alert saw shoppers abandon their trolleys and drinkers their pints as the Castle Place shopping centre in Trowbridge was evacuated on Wednesday, for what turned out to be a false alarm.

Castle Place security staff called firefighters just after 1pm, after the fire alarm went off and there were reports of the smell of burning in the roof space above Wilkinson.

One woman who was in the centre at the time, said: “An alarm sounded and then went off.

“Then it came on again and marshals went around the shops telling everyone they had to leave immediately.”

Maureen Tanner, a sales assistant at Shaws the Drapers, said: “I came back from lunch and everybody was standing outside. They had shut everything.

“We were not allowed back until the alarm stopped. Security let the shops back in first, then the customers.”

Trowbridge fire station crew manager Hamish Daya, said: “It turned out to be fumes or dust from the workmen working on the flat roof. which had gone through a vent and set off the alarm.

“Everyone was very co-operative and we established it was a false alarm quickly.”

By 1.50pm the all-clear was given and the centre reopened.