STAFF at a Preston retail park were advised to be extra vigilant on Bank Holiday Monday, after it was revealed their shopping complex could been targeted by bombers.

Security guards at Deepdale Retail Park alerted workers in the morning that they had received a tip-off that the complex could be under threat.

Police were unaware of the tip-off until store managers on the site contacted them.

The security guards believed the site could be targeted because of its proximity to the Caribbean Carnival, which attracts thousands of minority groups to the area every year.

Nothing came of the threats but some workers were put under considerable stress.

One shop worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We were just shaking all day. To know a bomb could be near you is a horrifying experience.

"It was simply terrifying. As the day grew on, the Chinese whispers started and we were hearing all sorts of things.

"Fortunately, it came to nothing."

Police are already aware of the existence of a local White Wolves unit - a splinter group of right wing fascist Combat 18 - and have urged people to be on their guard.

One of the site's security guards said: "We had been informed that the Caribbean Carnival may be a target of Combat 18 and that our site may be a target.

"As a result, we increased security and had extra staff working that day. "Fortunately we had an excellent day with some 6,352 vehicles passing on to the site. We had no car crime or shop thefts so there were no problems."

A police spokesman said: "We would always urge people to be vigilant."

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