A SHOPPING centre was evacuated yesterday afternoon because of a small fire in a light fitting.

A quick-thinking security guard extinguished the electrical fire in the Dixons store of the Cornmill Centre, Darlington, shortly after 3pm.

The centre was evacuated and fire brigade called. The fire was already out when they arrived, but they used a thermal imaging camera to ensure there was no danger of it restarting.

The shopping centre was reopened to staff and shoppers at 3.30pm.

Susan Young, centre manager, said the Dixons store was shut for the rest of the day for electrical engineers to assess the damage.