Police had to disperse a crowd of "hundreds" of teenagers and young people that had gathered outside a shopping centre as some caused havoc by setting off alarms and throwing fireworks.

Officers were called to the Arndale centre in Manchester on Sunday (November 27) as an estimated 700 people gathered on the steps and blocked nearby tram lines.

Cops confirmed that they had been made aware of anti-social behaviour at the centre on Sunday afternoon and had to break up the crowds, with enquiries still ongoing as to why so many people were present – no arrests have been made so far.

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Witnesses, including Councillor Pat Karney, told the Manchester Evening News that "alarms and fireworks" had been set off at the centre.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "At around 2pm yesterday, police were made aware of issues of anti-social behaviour at the Arndale centre.

"The group were dispersed, and enquiries are ongoing and at this time, no arrests have been made."

Cllr Karney said: "The majority have just been parading up and down Cross Street and Market Street, the problems mainly lie with the minority who have been setting off alarms in the Arndale and throwing fireworks around.

"Others have been standing on the tram tracks in Exchange Square and staff have had to pilot trams in and out.

"It is a Christmas headache that we don't need," adding: "There must have been around 700 of them. Some were causing havoc and nuisance inside the Arndale so the police had to come down and help disperse the crowds and security staff at the Arndale threw a lot of them out too."

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People took to social media to share their experiences of being caught up in the crowds, wih one person tweeting: "Horrendous in town this afternoon – anyone decent who mistakenly thought today was a good day to do the markets, my sympathies!

"Town just doesn’t feel safe on weekends anymore!" Another wrote: "Was chaos couldn’t wait to leave."

A spokesperson for the Arndale centre said: “As these incidents and the large gathering did not take place inside Manchester Arndale and were dealt with by Greater Manchester Police we will not be commenting any further.”

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