Christmas shoppers abandoned a Debenhams store in terror when a rat was discovered roaming around the shop floor on Friday afternoon.

According to the Telegraph, a group of women were trying on mascara in the beauty section when they felt something brush past their legs.

One shopper said: “There were screaming, panicking women and some were almost bursting into tears.

"One lady was hyper-ventilating and having a panic attack.

"The rat just appeared from nowhere and the store was packed with Christmas shoppers because it was lunchtime and lots of people were on their break from work.”

Debenhams have not commented on the incident but it is reported that the rat disappeared into the store room.

Video via Bedfordshire On Sunday.