Droves of armed police swooped on a Bury high school amid reports someone had a gun.
At least four police vans and cars rushed to Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom at around 3pm this afternoon. The children were spotted coming out of school early and police were seen filing into the buildings by residents nearby.
Resident Bethany Breen said: "The kids came out early. Then we heard loads of sirens.
"I noticed all the police in the school, some went in with guns. It was scary, especially the size of the guns."
GMP said officers responded to reports there was 'someone with a gun in the school' in what they are now treating as a hoax call.
A spokesman said: "Shortly after 2.30pm on Monday 5 October 2020 police attended following a report that there was someone with a gun in a school on Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom.
"Following enquiries, it was established that there was no gun and no threat to the school or wider area.
"Officers are treating the report as a hoax report."
The school was implementing a 'lockdown procedure to prevent movement around the school' amid problems with the mains power supply, according to an an email to parents from headteacher Brian Roadnight, seen by the Manchester Evening News .
Staff communication went down as electronic systems failed, but all students and staff were 'informed of the power cut and escorted off the school site in their year groups', according to the email.
Police arrived after someone made a 'false or malicious call' now being investigated, added the school boss.
The email, signed from Mr Roadnight, reads: "Dear parent/carer, this afternoon we have experienced issues with our mains power supply. Electricity North West are currently working on the problem which is out of our control.
"A decision will be made before 7am tomorrow morning about whether the school will reopen. Please refer to the school website for information regarding this.
"In order to ensure pupil safety we carried out a lockdown procedure to prevent movement around school. Communication with staff took longer than normal as our electronic communication systems were unavailable.
"However, all pupils and staff were informed of the power cut and pupils were then escorted off the school site in their year groups, some slightly earlier than usual.
"It should be noted that the police attended because somebody made a false or malicious call, which is currently being investigated."
Many police vans and cars have since left the scene, but there remains one police van at the entrance to the school.
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.
