Cordon around bank

Officer workers and early morning shoppers were kept well away from the area around the HSBC bank at the corner of Manchester Road and Red Lion Street.

A large number of police officers including an armed response unit and dog handlers were called after the security alarm went off shortly after 8am.

A police spokesman said no-one should have been on the premises at the time. Rumours quickly spread around crowds gathered in the centre that a cleaner could not be accounted for.

A police spokesman denied anyone was missing and said all bank workers and cleaning staff had been accounted for.

Three hours after the alert police had still not entered the building because they said they were awaiting firearms officers.

Because the offices next door were empty and up for sale police feared that there was a possibility that someone may have tried tunnelling into the bank basement. A year ago hole-in-the-wall raiders made off with more than £100,000 from Barclays bank after the premises next door were set on fire.

Detectives investigating the robbery at Barclays Bank in Colne Road in December said the offenders got into the building via a dentist's surgery which had been set alight two weeks before.

A police spokesman said today: "When staff arrived at the HSBC bank there was a light on the alarm system which indicated that someone may have been in or may still be in there.

"We don't yet know whether there has been a crime or whether it is just a faulty alarm system.

"We are in regular touch with the alarm company. It is not believed there is any danger to the public.

"We are waiting for firearms officers to arrive to be able to enter the building."

The area has been fully cordoned off and road closures were in place.

Bank staff who were unable to get to work were asked to congregate at McDonalds close by in St James Street and were then taken to the police station canteen in Parker Lane.

Other office, bank, shop and pub staff were also unable to get to work.