Ikea evacuated after fire alarm

The new Ikea store on the outskirts of Dublin was evacuated this afternoon after a fire alarm was accidentally set off.

Witnesses reported chaos as hundreds of customers mingled with staff outside the shop, just off the M50 motorway near Ballymun, at about 2.30pm.

Many customers decided to leave and there was some traffic congestion in the area for a time.

The store later reopened.

Ireland's first Ikea store opened amid great fanfare on Monday. Some 3,000 customers passed through the doors in the first hour alone.