Staff arriving for work at a popular Blacon store are believed to have triggered a high tech burglar alarm that emits thick synthetic smoke to stop any intruder in their tracks.
The SmokeCloak went off at The Spar at The Parade about 6am today (Saturday October 31) due to a possible fault on the system.
A Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesman said crews from Chester Fire Station used a powerful fan to clear the smoke within minutes. The store was open as usual this morning.
It is understood the alarm is automatically linked to the fire service.
In the event of a burglary, the harmless synthetic smoke ensures intruders are prevented from stealing goods because they cannot see beyond the end of their nose as their vision is obscured.
SmokeCloak has been around for more than 20 years and is in operation in more than 50 countries around the world.
