Children frantically jumped over fences in a bid to escape a UK seaside town school after a suspected gunman roaming in close proximity saw it plunged into lockdown. “Hysterical” pupils were left “sobbing” after being locked down inside and unable to call their parents, it was said.
Reports of a man with a suspected gun on Frith Road in Bognor Regis were made just after 11am this morning. The police raced to the scene and advised nearby schools to implement temporary lockdown procedures while searches were carried out. Police cars and dogs have been spotted searching the area as the manhunt continues.
The main school affected is The Regis School, a secondary school and sixth form in West Sussex with close to 1,600 pupils.
Distraught parents rushed to the scene following advice to collect their children amid the carnage whilst children from nearby schools were stuck inside the Arena Sports Centre for two-three hours. The leisure centre is located next to The Regis School.
Sara Whitworth, who has two children in the school, said children resulted to “climbing over fences to get out”, according to The Sun.
She added: “The whole school has just been placed in full lockdown.
“I have gone down to collect my children and they are just hysterical. I have never witnessed anything like that.
“Kids are trying to call their parents and then being told off for using their phones. It has just been so poorly managed.”
All schools have now reopened but armed officers remain in the area.
A spokesman for the force said: “At around 11.10am today (October 22), police received a report of a man seen with a suspected firearm in Frith Road, Bognor.
“Due to the close proximity of nearby schools, police advised them to implement temporary lockdown procedures while searches of the area were carried out.
“All schools have since reopened. Wider search activity, including armed officers, is ongoing, and a visible police presence continues in the area.”
The spokesman added: “Anyone with information or footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact police online or by calling 101, quoting reference 450 of 22/10. In an emergency, always dial 999.”