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The Galleria Outlet Centre in Hatfield was evacuated this afternoon as bomb squad officers probed a "suspect package" left at the complex.

Officers were alerted at 11.30am today after a member of staff discovered an abandoned suitcase in the busy shopping centre.

Bomb squad experts carried out a controlled explosion after evacuating the shopping centre and closing off the area for around five hours.

The suitcase was later found to have not posed a threat to the public.

Shoppers spoke of their shock after being evacuated from the scene of the drama.

One shopper wrote on Twitter: "Wow only if you can see what's going on at the Galleria in Hatfield now.

(Image: Twitter / @robbartlett75)

"Bomb disposal team, police cars and staff and customers evacuated."

Another said: "Just drove to Hatfield galleria.

"Avoid as it has been evacuated. Police in attendance with bomb disposal."

Another driver added: "Bomb scare at Hatfield Galleria. Just got turned around and had to go down A1(M) to avoid it all!"

A video uploaded by one shopper shows pedestrians leaving the scene while police cars arrive, alongside a large vehicle marked "bomb disposal".

In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said: "Police received a report of an abandoned suitcase at the Galleria shopping centre in Hatfield at around 11.30am today.

(Image: Google Maps)

"Officers attended immediately and set up cordon around the object.

"This cordon was then expanded, and as a result the building was evacuated and roads in its immediate vicinity closed.

"An Explosive Ordinance Disposal team have been in attendance and have carried out a number of controlled explosions inside the centre.

"Following this work and subsequent investigations, officers are now content that the object is safe and was not a suspicious device of any kind."