IKEA in Wednesbury evacuated after reports of 'suspicious item'

The store, next to the Gallagher Shopping Park by junction nine of the M6, was cleared of all staff and customers at around 2.15pm on Tuesday (March 11).

Several police vehicles  attended the site and new customers were stopped from entering the shop's car park, which was cordoned off.

 IKEA has confirmed the evacuation was to allow it to investigate a 'safety concern'. 

The firm would not elaborate on the nature of the concern.

In a statement, a spokesman for IKEA said: "The safety of our customers and co-workers is always the highest priority for IKEA.

"We can confirm that all customers and co-workers exited our Birmingham store at 2.15pm on Tuesday to allow us to investigate a safety concern.

"The store reopened at 3.15pm. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

A West Midlands Police statement said: "We were called to Ikea in Wednesbury at around 1.52pm following a report of a suspicious item.

"The store was evacuated while the building was searched and has since re-opened."