A SHOPPING centre was evacuated following the discovery of a 'suspicious package'.

Police were called to The Mall in Blackburn just before 8am today, after reports a suspicious package had been found under the building.

Shoppers and employees were then evacuated from the building shortly before 9am.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at around 7.40am to the report that a suspicious package had been found under The Mall in Blackburn.
"Security evacuated the building at around 8.45am.

"Police conducted searches and the device was not deemed to be viable.
People were allowed to re-enter at around 9.10am."

Council employees were also evacuated from the attached tower block.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We understand that the Mall was evacuated.

"The Tower Block was also emptied as an automatic response to The Mall's evacuation."