Exeter’s home game with Carlisle was suspended for 45 minutes after smoke was seen coming from the back of one of the stands at St James’ Park.

Nine minutes into the game Exeter posted on their official Twitter account that the game had been stopped because of a fire drill before adding that smoke had been seen coming from the back of the Stagecoach Stand.

Smoke is coming from the back of the Stagecoach Stand - it's been evacuated. #ECFC @ St James… https://t.co/i4C76wQlMc — Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) March 12, 2016

Fans rook refuge on the field while the incident was addressed by firefighters.

Carlisle continued to post updates on their Twitter account, adding a picture of a firefighter in the stand but adding: “Exeter are hopeful of getting the game restarted soon.”

After a lengthy delay, which also involved a problem with the floodlights, Exeter posted an update, saying: “The players are back in the ground and have now returned to the tunnel. City players back out on the field and warming up now. All okay here folks!”