A WOMAN has died following an incident at the Ikea store in Southampton yesterday afternoon.

The ambulance service confirmed the fatality, but could not say how she had died.

Police were called to the car park of the furniture shop in West Quay Road at 1.18pm.

An officer was guarding a car on the top floor car park. The vehicle was surrounded by tape and the policeman appeared to have a small evidence bag.

A police tent was erected on the groundfloor walkway in the shadow of the building.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Amublance was also spotted in the area, and landed at the nearby Mayflower Park.

Police stopped people from going into the car park and told people to avoid the area to stop a build up of traffic.

Officers warned that the car park on the roof was partially closed off, as was part of West Quay Road.

On the roof of the store, a large area was cordoned off as police stood guard.

At ground level, the entrance from West Quay Road was blocked off, as had the walkway to the store from the Harbour Parade, by police and ambulances.

An announcement went out over the IKEA intercom asking all managers and senior staff to attend a meeting this afternoon.

On the ground floor of IKEA shop staff are guiding customers so that they avoid an area of the car park.

Two ambulances left the scene at 3.30pm, at which time a private ambulance arrived.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said that medics rushed to the store but were unable to save a woman who has been pronounced dead.

The service sent a rapid response vehicle, two ambulance officers, a hazardous area response team, and an ambulance crew.

The spokeswoman said: “We were called at 1.23pm to West Quay Road after reports of a medical emergency.

“We treated one female patient for her injuries but unfortunately she has died.”

Alex Scoggins, IKEA Southampton marketing manager, said, “We can confirm that that an area of our car park has been sealed off due to an incident that happened earlier today.

"The safety and security of all co-workers and customers is always our highest priority and we are now supporting the emergency services on-site. The store is still open however there is no access to the carpark for cars at the current time.”

Whilst the store remained open to customers throughout the incident, the car entrance to Ikea was reopened to customers shortly before 4pm. Prior to that, they had been directed to park in WestQuay instead.