The reason behind an evacuation to a major Swindon supermarket has been revealed.

Alarms went off in the Tesco Extra store on Ocotal Way at around 6.20pm on November 16 and everyone had to abruptly stop their shopping and leave. 

One member of the public described being stood out in the cold with their children before they could hear sirens getting louder and louder.

"I had only just got there and all of a sudden I had to leave and ended up stood outside in the car park with a lot of other people with no idea why.

"Then a fire engine arrived."

One crew from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue did attend the scene, but around forty minutes later everyone was allowed back in the store to continue their shopping. 

A spokesperson for the fire brigade has now confirmed what happened. 

"We were called to alarms at the premises at 6:23pm yesterday," they said.

"One fire engine from Swindon was mobilised and on arrival discovered this was a false alarm caused by an accidental breakage of a glass call point."