Drivers say they were stuck in 'hour-long queues' desperately trying to get out of the IKEA car park on Sunday afternoon, after the store was evacuated following a suspected gas leak nearby. Worried shoppers were told by staff, and over the tannoy, that they had to immediately leave the building as the alarms sounded.
It was later confirmed that the fire service had been called to nearby Oldham Road, which was blocked off, following reports of a gas leak. All nearby businesses, including the huge IKEA store, were evacuated, prompting what was described as 'chaos' on the roads and in car parks nearby.
Shoppers who had been in IKEA at the time of the evacuation told the Manchester Evening News that they had been stuck for up to an hour, with others confused as to what was going on. Drivers attempting to leave nearby Sainsbury's and M&S also had to wait for long periods of time due to the busy roads.
