Yahoo News County Durham school put into emergency lockdown after reports of intruders with air guns
A County Durham school was placed into lockdown on Friday afternoon due to 'intruders' on its site who were reported to have air guns.
Pupils at King James I Academy in Bishop Auckland were put into an emergency lockdown and police were called to the site after two teenagers were reported to be on a field with "air weapons". The lockdown procedure remained in place as police searched the area, but there was no trace of anyone with weapons.
A text parents received from the school shortly after 1pm read: "The school is currently in an emergency lockdown, this is due to intruders on site. All students are safe and we are in contact with the police.
"Please do not contact the school or students as it may tie up the phone lines and cause under panic. We will be in touch with further updates. - King James I Academy."
Durham Constabulary confirmed that they had attended the incident and it was stood down at around 1.45pm.
A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "Shortly before 1pm, we were alerted to reports of two teenagers on a field behind King James I School, in Bishop Auckland possibly in possession of air weapons. The school instituted procedures to safeguard pupils and officers attended to carry out a search of the area.
"Police carried out an extensive search but found no trace of the youths and informed the school. The incident was stood down at around 1.45pm".
