Drivers say they were stuck in 'hour-long queues' desperately trying to get out of the IKEA car park on Sunday afternoon, after the store was evacuated following a suspected gas leak nearby.
Worried shoppers were told by staff, and over the tannoy, that they had to immediately leave the building as the alarms sounded.
It was later confirmed that the fire service had been called to nearby Oldham Road, which was blocked off, following reports of a gas leak.
All nearby businesses, including the huge IKEA store, were evacuated, prompting what was described as 'chaos' on the roads and in car parks nearby.
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