BANK staff were temporarily locked out of their workplace yesterday when a fire alarm set off an internal system used to alert the police to serious crime.

The fire alarm at the Natwest Bank in Yorkersgate, Malton, set off an internal alarm used to alert police to more serious incidents like robberies.

By the time staff and customers had reacted to the fire alarm and evacuated the building, the police alarm had been set off, causing doors to the building to automatically lock.

Police arrived at the bank yesterday to discover puzzled bank staff and customers standing on the street waiting to be let back in.

A spokesman from North Yorkshire Police said officers were in attendance, but it turned out to be a false alarm.

Natwest staff were left to enjoy the sunshine until a keyholder could be found to let them all back in again.

Updated: 11:18 Friday, July 27, 2001