Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the electrical fire in the shopping centre's Boots warehouse.

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Centre management said the fire in a light fitting caused a lot of smoke but was under control quickly.

Grandmother Kay Hawe, 65, was shopping with two grandchildren when the centre was evacuated.

Mrs Hawe, of Ropeland Way, Horsham, said she had been evacuated from Swan Walk before but that it had come as quite a surprise this time.

"We were having a cup of coffee," she said.

"We hadn't even started when the alarm went off."

Centre manager Gill Buchanan said: "The centre's fire detection system automatically evacuated the relevant zone in the centre and alerted the emergency services.

"The team on site are well trained in such matters and with the prompt arrival of the fire service the incident was dealt with and we were able to have the centre open and trading again very quickly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this caused to our customers but their safety is our prime responsibility."


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