Captured on camera, this is the moment hundreds of panicked shoppers ran in fear of their lives from a shopping centre in Manchester this morning.

Dramatic footage shows screaming crowds streaming through the doors and sprinting down the street after a 'big bang' was heard inside the sprawling Arndale retail complex today.

In a city on edge following the deadly blast at Manchester Arena last night, hysteria quickly spread between shoppers and one man was heard shouting: 'Run, there is a bomb'.

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Panicked: Shoppers ran from Arndale shopping centre in Manchester city centre amid reports of a 'big bang' inside the sprawling complex just hours after the Manchester Arena attack

Terrified: Shoppers screamed and cried as they fled the centre, fearing another attack

Arrest: Police arrested a man wearing military fatigues at Arndale shopping centre today. The arrest was not connected to the blast at Manchester Arena last night

Tensions running high: A fight breaks out near the cordon around the blast site today

Shop worker Niamh Weir, 17, from Oldham, told MailOnline: 'I was terrified. My heart was pumping. Shopping all over the floor. People just dropped everything and ran. We were panicking.'

Armed police flooded into the area after security guards raised the alarm of a suspicious package in the food court and placed the centre on lockdown. Shoppers were allowed to re-enter after 30 minutes.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that a suspicious package was found in the food court and police arrested one man but stressed it was 'unconnected' the the massacre.

Manchester remains on edge following the suicide bomb attack at the packed Ariana Grande concert last night, with extra armed police officers drafted in to patrol the streets.

ISIS have said one of its 'soldiers' set off the ball bearing bomb that injured at least 119 people. Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, 18-year-old Georgina Callander and 26-year-old John Atkinson were among those who lost their lives in the blast.

A 23-year-old man was arrested by anti-terror officers in the south of the city as police and security services attempt to work out if the suicide bomber was part of a cell. Security sources have told MailOnline that initial analysis of the 'sophisticated' device suggests it was made by an expert.

Response: Police were seen descending on the giant shopping centre this morning

Scores of people sprinted out of the shopping centre and many were seen embracing in tears outside

In a statement, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins from Greater Manchester Police explained how the force had stepped up its visible police presence in the city and had dedicated 'significant resources' to the investigation.

Local reports suggest there was a 'tense atmosphere' in the city centre as people went about their business this morning.

Photographs show how a fight broke out between three men at the cordon that remains in place around the blast site, with a police officer stopping in to break up the group.

Scores of people were seen pouring out of the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester this morning

Workers reported seeing members of staff running through the foyer screaming at people to evacuate

Greater Manchester Police were unable to confirm what had happened at the centre

Extra security precautions were also taken at Manchester United's Carrington training ground. Players had their cars searched as they arrived this morning while the club's mega store was closed for the day and stadium tours were suspended.

The team, who bowed their heads in tribute to the victims ahead of their training session today, also cancelled a press conference that was scheduled for this evening.

However the team's clash with Ajax in the Europa League final will still go ahead in Stockholm tomorrow night, although extra precautions were put in place today.

On alert: A police officer stands guard at a cordon around Manchester Arena today

Aftermath: Flowers were left in St Ann's square as security was stepped up across the city

Meanwhile, the Football Association confirmed that there will be additional security measures put in place for the FA Cup final in Wembley on Saturday. The reinforced security will also be present for the Championship and League Two play-off finals.

Take That cancelled their planned concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Tuesday night out of respect for the victims.

The group said no decision had been taken regarding their scheduled performances at the Manchester Arena on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Elsewhere Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick this morning announced that extra police officers have been put on duty in London in the wake of the 'utterly appalling' attack.