Welwyn Garden City's John Lewis store was evacuated this morning (September 20) after reports of a fire turned out to be a malfunctioning alarm.

Herts police and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the store in Bridge Road at around 11am, after reports that fire alarms had been triggered by smoke.

The premises was evacuated, but it was quickly established that there was no fire, and the alarm appeared to have been an electrical malfunction.

"At around 11am, the John Lewis store in Welwyn Garden City was evacuated due to an alarm activation," a Herts police spokesperson told the Welwyn Hatfield Times. 

"The alarm had been triggered by smoke. Officers attended alongside the fire and rescue service.

"Thankfully it has been established that there was no fire. It appears to have been an electrical malfunction."