The Shard was evacuated this afternoon after a fire alarm was accidentally set off, leaving office workers and tourists to trek down the highest building in London on foot.

Customers and office workers were told to leave the building shortly after 3.10pm on Monday, with many having to walk down dozens of flights of stairs.

Charlie Collins posted on Twitter: “Just walked down the shard from level 33. #evacuated. Coat still up there. #ideal.”

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Everyone was allowed back into the building once fire crews determined it was safe.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said crews were called after a fire alarm was activated, but it was found to be a false alarm.

A Metropolitan Police Service spokeswoman was unable to find a record of a call out to the skycraper this afternoon.