Around 2pm today St George’s Shopping Centre was evacuated of 100s of staff and customers while investigations were undertaken into a possible fire.
The normally welcoming entrances to the mall on Fishergate, Friaragte and Lune Street were all taped off and entry blocked by security.
The shopping centre car park was also closed while the building centre was inspected causing a jam along Lune Street as patient drivers queued to enter
Most of the staff evacuated from the building gathered outside the Corn Exchange pub on Fleet Street.
The incident was declared a false alarm after about an hour and he shopping centre was given the all clear. Shopkeepers re-opened their premises and hoards of eager Preston shoppers flooded back in.
Were you caught up in the evacuation today? Let us know in the comments below.