Children evacuated from four schools after threatening phone calls

A police investigation is now underway after four hoax bomb threats were made to schools in the West Midlands.

The calls were received between 9am and 9.30am this morning at schools in Halesowen and Oldbury.

A police investigation was immediately launched to find the person responsible.

Several schools, including Bristnall Hall Academy, decided to evacuate their students, although this was not on police advice.

The schools affected were:

• Oldbury Academy, Pound Road, Oldbury
• Holly Lodge High School, Holly Lane, Oldbury
• Bristnall Hall Academy, Bristnall Hall Lane, Oldbury
• Leasowes High School, Kent Road, Halesowen
  

Officers say they are also aware of similar calls made to schools outside of the region around the same time. The investigation will work to establish if these are linked.

Three schools in Sandwell and one in Dudley have been evacuated because of a security scare.

There are unconfirmed reports that the schools have been closed because of a bomb threat.

The schools affected are Bristnall Hall Academy, Oldbury Academy and Holly Lodge in Oldbury and Leasowes School in Halesowen.

Police are at all locations and have since released a statement.

West Midlands Police have said the schools that have been affected are:

• Oldbury Academy, Pound Road, Oldbury
• Holly Lodge High School, Holly Lane, Oldbury
• Bristnall Hall Academy, Bristnall Hall Lane, Oldbury
• Leasowes High School, Kent Road, Halesowen