WESTQUAY shopping centre was evacuated this evening, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Thousands of Christmas shoppers were asked to leave part of the giant retail Mecca amid reports of an emergency at around 5.45pm.

Hampshire Police confirmed the evacuation was due to a fire alarm.

Shoppers have now been allowed back in the shopping centre.

They were ordered to leave the centre immediately after a loud speaker announcement.

Eyewitnesses reported how metal shutters were brought down over the entrances of major stores such as Superdry and River Island towards Above Bar.

A spokesman for WestQuay said: "We can confirm that one section of the centre was evacuated earlier this evening for around 30 minutes. 

"This was a false alarm with no risk to the public who were able to continue their visit very shortly afterwards. 

"We pride ourselves on our robust safety procedures which is why we were required to evacuate as a precaution on this occasion."