Around 3,700 visitors were evacuated from the British Museum on Friday evening after smoke was detected inside one of the galleries, forcing staff to clear the venue and turn away Bayeux Tapestry ticket-holders.

Firefighters were called to the building following fears of a fire inside the exhibition space. The London Fire Brigade carried out a systematic search of the property to trace the source of the smoke, confirming that approximately 3,700 people had safely left the premises before crews arrived on the scene.

Fortunately, no damage was caused to the historic artefacts on display. A spokesman for the British Museum confirmed that the collection is safe and that there are no issues with the Bayeux Tapestry.

The London Fire Brigade said it suspects the smoke was caused by an overheating light. Fire crews finished their work and handed responsibility for the site back to the museum's management team at 7:27pm.

Those inside or waiting to enter were unable to return to see the exhibition on Friday night. A British Museum spokesman stated that emergency services attended what is believed to have been an electrical fault in a gallery, noting that an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The museum has issued apologies to those caught up in the disruption. Anyone whose booking was cut short or cancelled entirely has been advised to get in touch with the venue to arrange a refund or reschedule their visit for another date.

The incident comes at a crucial moment for the museum, which recently welcomed the 70-metre embroidery to the UK on loan from Normandy following an agreement with France.

Public demand for the exhibition has been exceptionally high. When tickets first went on sale in July, tens of thousands of people joined online queues, generating more than £2.5 million and delivering the highest single day of ticket sales in the museum's history. Standard admission costs £33, with off-peak tickets priced between £25 and £27.

The initial batch of tickets covers entry between September and December, with further releases scheduled for October and January before the historic piece is returned to France in July. Museum chair and former Tory chancellor George Osborne has called the loan a defining piece of national history and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, predicting around 7.5 million visitors in what he expects to be the biggest year in the museum's history.

What is not yet fully confirmed is the final technical finding behind the gallery's electrical fault, though initial checks point squarely to the lighting equipment.

If you held tickets for Friday evening, you should contact the British Museum directly to rebook your slot or request your money back. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.