THE GUILDHALL in the centre of Worcester had to be evacuated yesterday evening after a fire alarm was triggered.

Members of Worcester City Council’s Cabinet were discussing plans to outsource bin collections to a private company when the alarm went off at about 7.30pm.

Councillors, officers, members of the public and disgruntled journalists were forced to stand outside while firefighters, who arrived at the scene just minutes later, investigated.

The fire crew determined the alarm had been set off accidentally by dust or insects after about 15 minutes and the meeting resumed.