Panic spread among shoppers at the Whitgift Centre on Monday when a firework was mistaken for gunshots.

Worried shoppers fled the North End centre at around 4pm when someone let off a firework.

One shopper said: "I just saw people running out and saying that they had heard a gunshot. People were running past me and getting quite hysterical. I think a lot of people in there didn't know what to think so just left to be on the safe side."

A spokesman for the Whitgift centre said: "A firework was let off and police arrived on the scene promptly. We understand the person was arrested.

"While it was not gunfire, the incident was still dangerous."