Victoria Centre Nottingham evacuated due to security alert as bomb squad sent in

Bomb disposal team at the scene in Nottingham (Twitter/Bimbola25)

A shopping centre in Nottingham has been evacuated due to a security alert, with the Army's bomb disposal team called in.

The Victoria Centre was cleared of shoppers and the entire building cordoned off after a "suspicious package" was found, police said.

The item in question was understood to be a suitcase, left unattended near the centre's Trinity Square entrance.

Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Subway worker Cameron Clarke said: "Staff came into the store and asked who was in charge but our manager was on a break. He said we need to evacuate as soon as possible so I had to tell all the customers and shout 'get out' - it was a full store at the time.

"Now we've been told it could be closed anywhere between 30 minutes and five hours."

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said emergency services were called just before 11.25am on Sunday after the item was discovered in the Upper Mall.

"Security staff evacuated the Centre and a police cordon remains in place while officers and partners investigate the discovery to bring the incident to a swift and safe conclusion," a statement read