A shopping centre was evacuated after a suspicious package was left inside a shop.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Market Gates shopping centre after being evacuated in Great Yarmouth on Thursday (February 21).The Market Gates shopping centre after being evacuated in Great Yarmouth on Thursday (February 21). (Image: Archant)

Police were called to Great Yarmouth’s Market Gates on Thursday (February 21) at 12pm following reports of a suspicious package in the building.

Dee Greenwood, deputy centre manager, said: “We got a report of a package being left suspiciously in a shop. All procedures and protocols were followed. It was deemed necessary to customers and in their best interests to evacuate the centre. Police were called and dealt with the incident.”

Investigations confirmed the package was safe.

Shoppers and staff were forced to leave the complex after an alarm started to sound at around midday.

Members of the public were left in the dark as to the reasons for the alarm, although some had said it was a fire drill.

People were allowed back into the premises at 12.30pm when business resumed as usual.