A secondary school has been evacuated and a nearby primary has reportedly been locked down following a “security threat”.
Penair School in Truro, Cornwall, has confirmed that the premises has been closed and all students are being sent home, with buses being called to help with the transport.
A number of parents have contacted Cornwall Live suggesting the incident relates to a suspected ‘bomb threat’. One mum said: “Children overheard police say bomb threat was made at 7.30 this morning. All kids were sent to astro the minute they arrived at school.”
In a statement on Facebook, a spokesperson for Penair School said: “We received a anonymous phone call this morning threatening the security of the school and as a result evacuated all of the children and staff to the astro turf and are all safe and well.
“However we have decided to implement our snow closure procedures and will be sending all of the children home. We are awaiting buses to collect the children, all children who walk will leave the site in the next 10 minutes. We are also being assisted by the local police. Once again I can confirm that all children are safe, well and accounted for.”
“If you wish to collect your child in person, please park on the main road outside of the school building and walk to the second entrance where a member of staff will meet you, collect your child to go home.
“We will provide a further update when we are able.”
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: “Police are aware of a decision by Penair School in Truro to evacuate and send children home. This is a decision made by the school and not by the police. The school have requested that officers attend to aid with searches of the building, which we will assist with.”
Nearby primary school Tregolls Academy is also reportedly in “lockdown” as a precaution.
One mum with children there said: “Tregolls Academy has gone into lockdown as well as a precaution.
“My kids go there and we got a brief message to say kids are being kept inside but they don’t know why, just an incident at Penair. But I had to find out via this [CornwallLive] post the actual reason.”
Cornwall Live has approached Devon and Cornwall Police, as well as the MOD, for more information.
