Staff and customers have been evacuated from Westquay's food court after an explosion outside.

A van burst into a huge fireball just before 9.45am with firefighters rushing to the scene.

Staff have been evacuated from Westquay's food court, the Echo understands.

LIVE UPDATES: Huge fireball as explosion seen near Westquay

People wearing McDonald's uniforms have been spotted outside the shopping centre as well.

A security guard has since confirmed to the Echo that the shopping centre was evacuated and it is not known when it will reopen.

Westquay has been contacted for comment.

Video footage sent to the Echo shows a van parked outside the shopping centre on Harbour Parade in flames before a huge fireball erupts.

Emily Robinson was one her way to work when she heard a loud bang from the train station. She said: “It is a big pillar of smoke. It looks like quite a large fire.

“There seemed to be at one point a big bang. That could have come from the fire.

“There was a fire engine that came down at speed past the bus I was on, so the fire crew are on their way.

“I was just wondering what was really going on. Especially because we have had so many fires recently.”