Derby shopping centre reopens after bomb scare

‘Intu Derby will remain closed overnight following a report that a suspicious package had been found earlier this evening,’ says police

Shoppers were trapped in the car park outside the intu shopping centre in Derby – with police asking members of the public to steer clear of the area (EPA)

A major shopping centre in Derby reopened on Saturday morning after being evacuated by police on Friday night in the wake of a bomb scare.

Shoppers were trapped in the car park outside the Intu shopping centre in the centre of the town – with police asking members of the public to steer clear of the area.

People were only able to get their cars from the car park at around 3am when the shopping centre reopened after being shut for around eight hours.

“Officers are currently in attendance at the Intu Centre Derby due to a police incident," Derbyshire police said in a statement after the shopping centre was evacuated at 7pm on Friday night.

“The centre has been evacuated as a precaution and we would ask the public to avoid the area. No further information is available at this time.”

Just after midnight, the local police force said: “Intu Derby will remain closed overnight following a report that a suspicious package had been found earlier this evening. The Explosive Ordinance Disposal are in attendance and enquiries continue. Please avoid the area. A further update will be issued tomorrow, once available.”

Shoppers hit out at the fact they were unable to collect their vehicles during the night on Twitter.

While the shops in the centre are shut in the evening, the cinema, a bowling alley and a number of restaurants are open during the evening.