HEREFORD'S Maylord Shopping Centre has been evacuated this morning.

Staff and customers were told to leave the city centre site when alarms sounded shortly after 9am.

The car parks were closed and traffic backed onto Blueschool Street as security staff stopped cars entering the underground car park.

A recorded message stated that 'this is an emergency, please leave the building immediately.'

The Hereford Times spoke to security staff who said that this was just a drilL before the shopping centre was reopened at 9.45am.