No active shooter found at Tennessee high school following 'emergency situation', sheriff says

No suspect has been found and no injuries have been reported following a call about an "active shooter" at a high school in Tennessee, authorities have said.

The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that just before 8am, they received a call stating an active shooter was inside Volunteer High School in Church Hill.

"Deputies responded and immediately began searching the school. At this time, a suspect has not been located. No injuries have been reported," the office said.

The call triggered several lockdowns across Tennessee, mass student evacuations and multiple ambulances were sent to the high school.

Hawkins County School District said on its website Volunteer High students were evacuated in school buses to a National Guard Armoury to be picked up by their parents.

Video broadcast by media outlets showed a large police presence at the school, about 80 miles east of Knoxville in Hawkins County.

In a statement on Facebook, the school said : "There has been an emergency situation at Volunteer High School.

"Our major concern at this time is for the safety of our students and staff; please stay clear of the area to allow law enforcement and emergency personnel access to the area."

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and multiple agencies are assisting local authorities.

Other schools in the county also were placed on a temporary lockdown that was later lifted, the statement said.

The incident happened on the second day of the new school year in the county.