Westfield Shopping Centre evacuated over 'small fire' as shoppers flee in panic

'Huge crowds running behind me. People were screaming. No idea what is going on,' says one witness

Mass panic was sparked at Westfield in Stratford, east London (Janez Feasey)

Police evacuated a packed Westfield Shopping Centre on Saturday evening after a "small fire" was discovered at the scene in Stratford, east London.

Video posted on social media showed hundreds of people leaving the shopping centre - the UK's third largest - amid panic and confusion over the cause.

Conflicting claims said a dropped cigarette or smashed pain of glass were to blame for the evacuation.

One witness wrote: "Huge crowds running behind me. People were screaming. No idea what is going on."

Police later said officers had responded to a fire alarm triggered by a small fire.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "At around 17:15hrs on Saturday, 11 November, a fire alarm was activated at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford.

"Police officers, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service attended the location.

"A small fire was identified and dealt with by London Fire Brigade.

"Police cordons were lifted at around 17:50hrs and the shopping centre re-opened.

"At this early stage, the incident is not believed to be suspicious. We will work with London Fire Brigade and the Westfield Shopping Centre to establish the cause of the fire.

"We are not aware of any serious injury."