An incident lead to a closure at Bitterne Park School on Wednesday morning, with parents said to have received an urgent memo asking them not to send in students until further notice. Other city schools have also reportedly been affected by the incident, which police later described as bomb hoaxes.
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One police car was in attendance at around 9am on Wednesday (June 26), with two officers seen talking to senior school staff just inside the main school entrance.
Police officers talk to senior Bitterne Park School staff by the main entrance
Staff with walkie talkies were also positioned around the school gates.
One person posted on a local social media group: “I live opposite and heard someone with a megaphone asking everyone to evacuate the site at 7.50am ISH. There's lots off coaches doing pick ups for trips down at Riverside park”.
The school has been contacted for further comment.
Hampshire Constabulary later confirmed five city schools had been similarly affected.
A force spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the affected schools who are assisting us with enquiries."
Hampshire Fire and Rescue confirmed they hadn't been called out to Bitterne Park School.