Police attended the scene along with firefighters after receiving a call at 2.45pm following reports smoke was coming from the building.

It is believed a heater caught fire in the Tourist Information Centre, activating sprinkler systems.

Several hundred members of the public and around 500 staff were evacuated, many of whom have headed to the new Spiceball Leisure Centre in search of warmth.

A Castle Quay employee, who asked not to be named, said: "It's quite a major incident in the Tourist Information Centre, we don't know a lot about it yet.

"If you hear the fire alarm go off, obviously you just get out with what you've got. That's not great in this weather so everyone has gone over to Spiceball."

Cherwell District Council, which runs the Tourist Information Centre, said there was no fire, however.

Spokesman Jo Smith said: "A fault in the heating system at Cherwell District Council's Banbury town centre office triggered smoke alarms this afternoon.

"This led to the evacuation of Castle Quay shopping centre while the emergency services attended to make sure the area was safe.

"There was no fire and no-one was injured.

"As a result the council's one stop shop and tourist information centre will be closed on Friday January 8."

The shopping centre is expected to be closed for two hours.