A TICKET dodger sparked a terror alert which saw hundreds of people evacuated from a cinema complex.

The Showcase cinema complex on the Junction 27 business park alongside the M62 at Birstall was evacuated and closed from 6pm until just after 7.30pm on Saturday.

It is believed the evacuation took place after a young Asian man bypassed the ticket desk and rushed into the cinema.

Security guards could not track him down.

A member of the public rang police, who took the decision to clear the site.

A police spokesman said the incident was a false alarm.