This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-35350907

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Pupils evacuated in West Midlands school bomb scares Bomb scares at four West Midlands schools
(35 minutes later)
Three schools in the West Midlands have been evacuated after receiving bomb scare calls. Thousands of pupils were evacuated as four schools in the West Midlands received bomb scare calls.
Police said all pupils at Holly Lodge, Oldbury Academy and Bristnall Hall in Sandwell were safe and the council stressed there was "no reason to panic". Students at Holly Lodge, Oldbury Academy and Bristnall Hall in Sandwell were evacuated and lessons at Leasowes High School in Halesowen were halted.
The schools received the threats between 09:00 GMT and 09:30. The schools received the threats between 09:00 GMT and 09:30, West Midlands Police said.
Leasowes High School in Halesowen was also affected, West Midlands Police said. The force said all students were safe and an inquiry was under way to find out who was responsible for the calls.
Follow live updates on this story as they happenFollow live updates on this story as they happen
Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper said: "We've had a bomb alert in three Sandwell schools... we don't know at this stage where the tip came from." Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper said: "We don't know at this stage where the tip came from."
There was no suggestion of any other threat to other schools in Sandwell, the authority said. Two Oldbury Academy pupils told BBC WM that pupils and teachers were "panicking" as the school was evacuated.
A parent called Steve, who has a son and daughter at Oldbury Academy, told BBC WM the children were told by their teachers to evacuate.
"They did not know what was going on, they had no information off the teachers," he said.
"They were just scared, because they didn't know exactly what was going on."
Two Oldbury Academy pupils told BBC WM that pupils and teachers were "panicking".
A 15-year-old student said: "A few people were running down the street, running away from the school."A 15-year-old student said: "A few people were running down the street, running away from the school."
Three Sandwell schools
Francesca Spratt, a sixth form student at Bristnall Hall Academy, said a senior member of staff entered her biology class room and asked students to collect their things and leave as quickly as possible.Francesca Spratt, a sixth form student at Bristnall Hall Academy, said a senior member of staff entered her biology class room and asked students to collect their things and leave as quickly as possible.
She said: "Nobody was told why we were being evacuated but all of the students left the school very calmly, there was no running or mass panic."She said: "Nobody was told why we were being evacuated but all of the students left the school very calmly, there was no running or mass panic."
A pupil at Bristnall Hall said a teacher was "shaking" as she told children to leave.A pupil at Bristnall Hall said a teacher was "shaking" as she told children to leave.
The affected schools
Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services at Dudley council, said the Leasowes High School alert "turned out to be a bomb hoax".
He said there was "no suggestion of any other threat to other schools in Dudley borough".
Mr Cooper said: "We can reassure parents that the situation was dealt with quickly and safely."
Lessons at the school have now resumed, Dudley Council said.
Pupils at the three Sandwell schools were sent home.
Sandwell Council said the Harry Mitchell Centre in Broomfield, Smethwick, had been opened as a rest centre for children who weren't able to get home.Sandwell Council said the Harry Mitchell Centre in Broomfield, Smethwick, had been opened as a rest centre for children who weren't able to get home.
Avon and Somerset Police said four bomb hoaxes at schools in the Bristol area were not believed to be linked to the West Midlands alerts.Avon and Somerset Police said four bomb hoaxes at schools in the Bristol area were not believed to be linked to the West Midlands alerts.