DOZENS of customers and staff were evacuated from a Newquay supermarket on Sunday afternoon after the fire alarm sounded.

Shoppers at Morrisons in Treloggan Road were told to leave their baskets and trollies and exit immediately at about 3.30pm.

Customers were asked to congregate outside the front of the store until the fire service arrived and give the all clear.

An appliance from Newquay Fire Station attended the scene (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

An appliance from Newquay Fire Station attended the scene but customers were unable to return to the store and continue their shopping as the supermarket closed at 4pm due to the Sunday trading laws.

Shoppers were told to congregate outside the front of the store (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Shopper Alex Partridge said: “It’s more frustrating than anything. We were literally about to go to the till and pay when the fire alarm sounded so it’s really annoying.

“I could not see any smoke so I’m not sure if there was a fire. A lot of people have left to quickly do their shopping elsewhere .”

Daniel Watkins added: “I’d literally spent more than an hour doing the family shop when the fire alarm went off.

“It’s not the first time the alarm has sounded in that store whilst I’ve been doing the shopping.”

Staff were also evacuated (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

John Walker, the white watch manager at Newquay Fire Station, confirmed no fire had occurred. He stated the fire alarm sounded due to a fault in the system.

Mr Walker said: “There was a fault in the fire detection system, which is intended to be an early warning system when there is a fire.

“These electronic systems can be subject to faults and system glitches. We have to attend and give due diligence to make sure no fire has occurred.

“These faults are not uncommon. We get them all the time.

“A full search of the building was carried out by the crew using a thermal imaging camera and ladders to prove there was no fire.

“An engineer was requested by the supermarket to come and investigate the cause of the alarm sounding.”

Morrisons stated the fire alarm was activated shortly before the store was due to close. A spokesperson for Morrisons said: “The store did evacuate but we can confirm there was no fire and the store will open again as normal tomorrow.”