28599/1HUNDREDS of shoppers were forced to brave torrential rain when fire alarms were activated at Tesco superstore for the third time in two weeks.

Building work being carried out at the County Way store, in Trowbridge, has caused problems with the fire alarm systems, leading to two store evacuations within a 14-day period.

A third evacuation was sparked last week when smoke from a toaster activated the alarms.

Shoppers were forced to evacuate into the pouring rain on Monday afternoon when the alarms sounded.

Manager Richard Bayliffe said although it was a false alarm, procedures had to be followed to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

"Building work has been going on in the store and some of the work has had an effect on the smoke detectors," he said.

"The good news is the system works when it is supposed to but it is inconvenient these false alarms have happened.

"What makes life equally difficult is that we have to, through our regulations, get people as far away from the front of the store as possible."

Mr Bayliffe said he was sorry people were forced out into the storms and promised action was being taken to resolve the problem.