A SUPERMARKET was forced to temporarily close last night after a man was causing "alarm and distress".

Workers had to close the Tesco store on Leeholme Road in Billingham, near Stockton, at around 8.25pm due to concerns over a man's behaviour.

Cleveland Police arrived at the store and arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence.

Despite wild speculation on social media about what took place, a shop worker told The Northern Echo the evacuation was "mainly just a precaution".

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Police received a report that a man was causing alarm and distress to people within a Tesco store on Leeholme Road at around 8.25pm.

“A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence."