Police investigate 'suspicious vehicle' at Westfield shopping centre

Police place area around White City shopping complex on lockdown as specialist officers inspect vehicle

Crowds of shoppers in the Westfield shopping centre in west London (Getty)

Scotland Yard placed the area around Europe’s largest shopping centre on lockdown to investigate a “suspicious vehicle”.

Police shut down nearby Tube stations and cordoned off roads as specialist officer inspected the vehicle in the car park of Westfield London in White City.

The Metropolitan Police said it was called to the shopping centre at 10.30am.

A spokeswoman added: “Officers, including specialist units, are on scene and the vehicle is being assessed.

“The car park has been closed. A cordon is in place. Enquiries continue.”

White City and Wood Lane underground stations were shut at the request of police.

The stations and Westfield's car park reopened about two hours later after officers gave the vehicle the all-clear.

A Westfield spokeswoman said: “Westfield worked closely with the Police and emergency services in the investigation of a suspicious vehicle which proved to be false. The centre’s retailers continue to trade as normal and all car parks have been reopened.”