'Anonymous threat' made to school as students evacuated and investigation launched

Students at a school in Warrington were evacuated after an 'anonymous threat' was made on Thursday (October 17). Great Sankey High School was forced to close early after the incident.

Police descended on the school, on Barrow Hall Lane, and an investigation was launched. Parents were contacted to be told the school would be closing early, with students later sent home, as officers conducted enquiries.

It is understood the alarm was raised shortly before 11am, with pupils evacuated from the school 'as a precaution'. Police said there was 'no need for any concern in the wider community or nearby schools'.

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The nature of the threat made to the school has not yet been confirmed. Cheshire Police have been asked for further details on the incident.

A post shared by Warrington Police on social media read: "We are aware of a school in Warrington which have evacuated their students as a precaution following an anonymous threat they've received. Our officers are in attendance at that school and there is no need for any concern in the wider community or nearby schools in relation to this."

One concerned parent wrote on social media: "When my daughter first called me just after 11 to say they had been evacuated, she said it was a different alarm from the normal fire alarm and had been told by a staff member it’s not a fire or intruder."

Another commented: "They wouldn't tell them [the students]. My son said they just sent them home. Email just says an incident."

A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "On Thursday 17 October Cheshire Police attended at Great Sankey High School, Warrington in relation to an anonymous threat that had been received.

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