Update: Staff are now being let back into the centre and junction 2 northbound on the M77 has been reopened. 

Hundreds of shoppers at one of Glasgow’s biggest malls have been evacuated due to paint fumes.

Emergency services, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, arrived on the scene shortly after 1pm to reports of customers feeling unwell.

It is believed paint fumes being circulated through the air vents could have caused the issue.

The vents have now been switched off and several people are receiving treatment as a precaution.

Read more: Do you know this man? Cops want to speak to him after man is seriously assaulted in Glasgow

All entrances to the centre are currently blocked off by security and police with motorists being denied access to the roads.

Dozens of staff remain outside while police  guard the entrances and exits.

A man, who did not want to named, was heading to the cinema with his wife.

He has been standing outside Silverburn for several hours after leaving his bag in cineworld.


He told The Evening Times: “My wife and I were heading to watch a film at lunchtime. We got to Nando’s and we started coughing.

“We bought our tickets, sat down to watch the movie then the screen went blank and we were told to evacuate.

“I can still feel it in the back of my throat.”

The public were ushered out of the centre in Pollok while specialist teams arrived on the scene.

Twitter user Chelsea King wrote: "Just been evacuated from @silverburn after alerting the staff to the fact everyone was having severe coughing fits &tears streaming from your face. We alerted them at 11:50 and at 1:30 evacuated by screaming security guards! “A chemical spill” not a chance."

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue service confirmed: "We are currently in attendance at Silverburn Shopping Centre, near Glasgow following reports of a chemical smell.

"Operations Control mobilised a number of fire engines and a specialist environmental protection unit to the scene. The shopping centre has been evacuated."

A spokesman for Silverburn Shopping Centre said: “We've temporarily evacuated Silverburn as a precautionary measure and the emergency services are in attendance.

Read more: Glasgow cardiac arrest death could have been prevented, inquiry found

“The safety of our customers and staff is always our number one priority. We will keep you updated on the situation.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "We were called to Silverburn around 12.40pm after reports of customers being evacuated.

"A number of people reported feeling unwell.

"Several people are receiving medical treatment as a precaution."