MORE than 3,000 people were evacuated from a shopping centre on the outskirts of York after a fire broke out at a fast food restaurant.

The fire started in the McDonald's restaurant in the McArthurGlen designer outlet, near Fulford, at about 4.30pm on Saturday.

A McDonald's spokeswoman said it was caused by an electrical fault behind a deep fat fryer, and had been put out by the time fire crews arrived at the scene.

No one was hurt in the fire, which left little damage to the store.

McArthurGlen's retail operations manager, David Aunins, said the evacuated shoppers were allowed back into the outlet after about half-an-hour.

The McDonald's restaurant was open for business yesterday.

Updated: 10:49 Monday, March 08, 2004