Huge queues outside Brent Cross shopping centre as venues ramp up security in wake of Manchester attack

There were huge queues outside a shopping centre in north London as venues ramped up security following the Manchester terror attack.

Every person entering Brent Cross shopping centre was being searched on Wednesday after the terror threat in the UK was raised to critical.

Twitter users described "chaos" as some car parks were closed while all bins and charging points were removed.

A spokesman for the shopping centre said security had been increased "in line with advice from the security services".

One person said on Twitter: "Brent Cross on High Alert... Stop and search just to get in."

Another added: "Massive queues at @brentcross_sc due to everyone being searched."

Another said: "Security tight at #BrentCross I'm guessing that the threat level is to do with viable threat against a shopping centre."

Tom Nathan, General Manager of Brent Cross, said in a statement: “Our security procedures in the centre have been increased in line with advice from the security services, which have moved to raise the national security status to critical following recent events.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our number one priority.”

Earlier on Wednesday a packed shopping centre in Barking was evacuated and a man arrested under the Terrorism Act after police swooped in east London.

The man was stopped by police at Vicarage Field Shopping Centre in Barking shortly before 10.30am.

Officers arrested him for obstructing a search under the Terrorism Act and assaulting a police officer, the Met Police confirmed.

A spokeswoman said he had been taken to an east London police station.

Meanwhile soldiers were put on guard outside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on Wednesday as Britain was placed on lockdown.