HUNDREDS of shoppers were evacuated from Safeway on Saturday after gas leaked from a faulty refrigeration pipe.

Bargain hunters flocked to the Warminster store just before it closed for a four day refit, when it will reopen under the Morrisons banner.

Perishable produce had been marked down at the end of the day but the alarm sounded and forced customers to flee empty handed.

Staff waiting outside the building redirected traffic away and police urged homeowners living nearby to keep windows and doors closed.

Fire crews from Warminster, Westbury, Salisbury and Yeovil attended.

Sub officer Pete Holcombe from Warminster Fire Brigade said: "There was a refrigeration gas leak, which seven appliances were called to at 5.10pm on Saturday.

"Refrigeration gas gives off a white smoke so as we came round the corner it looked like it was fire.

"We initially thought it could be flammable or explosive so the plan was to start evacuating the area.

"That never got off the ground because we established it was non explosive and non flammable.

"The store was evacuated and all the staff at Safeway were really helpful, allowing us as much room as we needed. It was caused by a mechanical fault and had nothing to do with the reopening as Morrisons."

Four firefighters entered the building to control the leak but needed an engineer from the store to locate and fix the problem. The gas was not concentrated enough to be dangerous.

A Safeway spokesman said: "A number of people had to be evacuated. It was done very quickly and full access was given to the fire crews.

"We are pleased to say we are still reopening under the Morrisons banner as planned on Thursday."