BREAKING: Manchester schools in lockdown after email threat to pupils and staff

Schools in Manchester are in lockdown after being sent an email which 'made threats to pupils and staff'. It's understood Manchester High School for Girls, Manchester Grammar and Withington Girls School are among the schools affected.

An email sent to parents at Manchester High School for Girls said 'many other schools' in the area had received the same threat. It added; "We do not know if this threat is credible but I am treating it as such until I receive information from police to the contrary.

"As a result we have kept pupils inside the school buildings throughout the day and we have been visited by police who have advised us they will keep in touch to update us about the ongoing nature of this potential threat."

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

The same email has been sent to schools in Cheshire and Liverpool. Cheshire police have launched an investigation.

Det Chief Insp Justin Hancock added: "We would like to reassure parents that this is believed to be malicious and we are doing everything we can to locate the person responsible for these emails."

Follow our blog below for live updates on this developing story...

A GMP spokesperson said the force has received reports of malicious communications being sent to schools across Manchester.

The reports are currently being investigated to ensure the safety of schools and local communities, they added.

Chief Insp Chris Boyd of GMP's City of Manchester Division, said:

"We take reports of this nature very seriously and whilst we have not advised any schools to close, our officers will nevertheless be stepping up their high-visibility presence around schools at the end of the day today to provide