Panicking locals mistake school CSI-style science project for real murder scene

School pupils sparked panic in a sleepy rural town when alarmed residents confused their CSI-style science project for a real murder scene.

Students in Kington, Herefordshire, were investigating a mock break-in and murder as part of their Forensic Science BTEC qualification.

Seven teens donned white CSI-style forensic overalls, with blue plastic bags over their shoes as they got into character.

Teachers at Lady Hawkins' School in Kington even put tape saying 'Police Do Not Cross' around the 'crime scene'.

The pupils were encouraged to bag up evidence and carry it out to a forensic's tent erected outside the school's cricket pavilion for the project last month.

But the scene was so convincing residents living nearby became convinced a major crime had been committed in their quiet community.

Several panicking locals rang headteacher Gary House to find out if someone had been murdered.

Mr House said: 'The Kington community is fiercely supportive of its school so after setting the crime scene, with community police help, it was no surprise to get a couple of calls from concerned residents.

'Once they were clear it was a school activity the residents switched from concern to interest and wanted to know all about out trainee CSIs.'

Resident Arthur Dixon, 68, called the school after he was concerned about his grandson who attends the 446-pupil 11-16 school.

The retired civil servant said: 'I was shocked when I saw the police tape on the cricket pavilion in the school grounds.

'And then I saw the people in the forensics clothes as well, so it looked like there had been a murder or serious incident.

'I shouted my wife and told her I thought something serious might have happened over at the school.

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'Then I phoned the headteacher because our grandson goes to the school and I wanted to check he was okay.

'I did laugh when Mr House told me it was just a mock crime scene for the forensics science students.

'They did a good job of making as realistic as possible because it fooled me and I'm sure it tricked a lot of my neighbours too.'

Another resident who lives near the school added: 'I was just about to phone the police when my friend came out into the garden and told me it wasn't real.

'They could of at least warned us they were going to do something like this, there was even real police tape up there.

'I thought someone had been seriously hurt or killed. I was expecting to see police cars screeching up at any minute.

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'When we realised it was a school project we did have a laugh about it afterwards.'

Last week they discovered they had all received a distinction for the unit.

An external verifier for the award said the students 'showed a great understanding of the subject matter and really seemed to delve into it.'