THE FRIARS Walk shopping centre in Newport has been evacuated after reports of a ’suspicious’ vehicle in the area.

Gwent Police have asked the public to keep away from the vicinity of the centre, which opened in 2015.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: "We are currently dealing with incident in Friar’s Walk, Newport following a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in the area.

"Specialist officers have been deployed to the scene and there is cordon in place as a safety precaution.

"We would ask for the public to avoid the area at this time."

Newport Bus, which operates services to Chepstow and Caldicot, said services will be diverted to Queensway rather than arriving at Newport bus station.