ONE of Swindon’s largest supermarkets was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon following a security scare.

The alert, which happened shortly after 3pm at the Asda Walmart store on the Orbital Shopping Park, was sparked by an unattended bag found near the front windows.

Customers were shepherded out of alternative doors and moved away from the building by waiting police officers.

The package was investigated and ultimately found to be safe, the store was reopened by 4pm.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “The store was evacuated at 3.22pm by staff following a report of a suspicious rucksack near the front door.

“Police attended and the bag was found to be all in order.”

The North Swindon Neighbourhood Policing Team later took to Facebook to reassure residents.

They wrote: “Customers at Asda on the Orbital Retail Park had their shopping trip interrupted this afternoon by a security alert.

“Many people were quite alarmed to be asked to the leave the store to find PCSOs and police officers cordoning off the area and moving people away from the food doors.

“Our thanks to the shoppers who were calm and patient while we checked all was okay.

“If anyone would like to come forward to claim the backpack and explain the contents (possibly stolen goods) we will be happy to have a conversation with them.”