HEREFORD'S Shirehall has been evacuated this afternoon due to a malfunctioning fire alarm.

The St. Peter's Square building is home to both Hereford Crown Court and Herefordshire Council staff.

A judge was in the process of summing up a case in one of the building's court rooms following a trial when the alarm sounded.

Legal representatives and staff were evacuated to the front of the St Owen Street building while members of the jury and the defendant went to a separate area.

A spokesman for Herefordshire Council confirmed the Shirehall and Union Street buildings had been closed due to a malfunctioning fire alarm.

They are currently waiting for an engineer to attend and council staff have been moved to alternative locations to work.