Junior school evacuated after security threat

A junior school had to be evacuated due to what police described as a "threatening email".

Firside Junior School in Hellesdon, near Norwich, moved all pupils and staff to Hellesdon High School, on the same road, as a precaution following police advice.

Wensum Trust, which runs both schools, said there was no immediate need for parents and carers to collect their children from the school.

"We recognise that this situation may cause concern for families and the wider community, and thank everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation as we prioritise the safety of our children and staff," a trust spokesperson said.

They added: "Everyone is safe, calm and fully accounted for, and pupils are being supervised by staff while at Hellesdon High School.

"The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff remain our absolute priority."

Norfolk Police was called at 09:20 BST following "reports of a threatening email".

A spokesperson said: "Officers attended and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

"At this stage no credible threat has been identified and the matter has been assessed as low risk."

Parents and carers who wished to collect their children early from the high school could do so via the high school reception, they said, with staggered collection times by year group to avoid traffic congestion.

"We are grateful to the police, Hellesdon High School and our staff for their support and cooperation," the trust spokesperson added.

"We will continue to follow police guidance and provide further updates when appropriate."

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