Passersby have been left stunned following an explosion outside Westquay Shopping Centre on Harbour Parade this morning.

Emergency services rushed to the scene where firefighters have been tackling a vehicle fire, which saw Westquay shopping centre evacuated.

Video footage sent to the Echo shows a van parked outside the shopping centre on Harbour Parade before an explosion saw a fireball engulf the vehicle, with smoke billowing into the sky.

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Mike Fellows witnessed smoke emanating into the Southampton sky, as he said: “There was a loud bang followed by a lot of dark smoke rising from behind the car park area. A fire engine arrived fairly quickly.”

Kat Annells added: “I saw lots of smoke,” before “loads of emergency services" headed to the area.”

Here is a selection of pictures from the scene.