SWINDON Magistrates and Swindon Crown Courts have both been evacuated due to a bomb scare.
The fire alarm went off shortly after 2pm and approximately 100 people were led outside.
Police are on the scene and have closed off Gordon Road, Islington Street and Princes Street from Whalebridge to the traffic lights outside the magistrates court as a precaution.
Shoppers and workers with cars parked in the cordoned off zone are unable to move their vehicles and had been told it would be at least an hour before they could. A Wiltshire Police spokesman confirmed they had received reports of a possible explosive device and and that specially trained officers were searching both courthouses.
"We appreciate this will cause inconvenience to some members of the public, including motorists, but we must ensure a thorough and proper search is done for safety reasons and we hope to complete these in a timely manner," he said.
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