Sunday shoppers in the Oxford branch of Debenhams, the department store in George Street, were evacuated after a fire alarm was activated.
Police and firefighters shepherded Christmas shoppers on to the street after the alarm went off at around 2.30pm.
Shoppers in Borders, the Magdalen Street book store, were also evacuated as a precaution before the area was made safe.
A police spokesman said the alert was a false alarm.
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