Manchester’s largest Christmas Market has been evacuated by police over a security scare.

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication in connection with the incident in Albert Square.

Officers with sniffer dogs were seen searching the closed stalls outside the town hall on Friday morning, as PCSOs guarded every entrance.

Uniformed constables were spotted looking between the outlets and scouring the spaces underneath the wooden huts with torches.

A GMP spokesman said: “At 4.50am on Friday 27 November 2015, police received an abandoned 999 call regarding the Christmas Markets in Manchester city centre. Later, a man claimed a ‘package’ had been left in the market.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication and remains in custody for questioning.

“The market has been temporarily cordoned off while officers ensure there is no threat to members of the public.”