SHOPPERS were evacuated from The Mall and Blackburn Market this morning.

An alarm could be heard from outside the large town centre building as hundreds of shoppers, staff and traders gathered outside shortly after 9am.

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They were allowed back in at around 9.30am.

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall, said: "A pre-planned fire drill took place this morning.

"All procedures were followed and The Mall has now reopened."