THREE Dorset schools were hit by a ‘despicable’ bomb scare hoax that led to hundreds of children being evacuated across the country.

Southill School in Weymouth, Sherborne Primary School and Pokesdown Community Primary School in Bournemouth were evacuated yesterday morning after threats were made by a telephone call.

More schools were affected across Devon, Cornwall, Sussex and Hampshire.

Police stressed that the evacuations were a precaution, and that there is ‘no direct risk’ to pupils, staff or the wider community.

Southill School published a statement on its website shortly after the incident, saying they evacuated on police advice.

The children were not made aware of the situation at the time, though they were briefly told what had happened in an assembly yesterday afternoon.

The statement added: "The police came promptly and conducted a full search of the building. They found nothing and were satisfied that there was no risk to children. Children and staff were then able to return to school and their lessons approximately 30 minutes later.”

Ian Bartle, headteacher of Sherborne Primary School, praised the police, local authority and staff at the school for their response.

He added: "We are highly vigilant, like all schools and have set practices to follow. The local authority were highly supportive and the police and school staff were amazing. 

"This was a nationwide hoax so we weren't particularly targeted. I will be communicating with parents about what happened."

Police are now investigating the incident.

Cllr Christine James is the ward councillor for Weymouth North, which covers Southill.

She said the incident was ‘extremely nasty’.

“People going round doing things like this could cause real panic. It’s a despicable thing to do to kids.”

She added: “I hope they catch whoever has done this. Well done to the police and the schools for handling this so well.”

Cllr Deborah Croney, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for learning, skills and children’s safeguarding, said the authority takes incidents such as this ‘extremely seriously’.

She added: “The county council’s emergency planning team advised Sherborne Primary School on instigating its prepared emergency plan, which they did. All children were accounted for. While police believe the incidents to be among a spate of malicious hoaxes across the country, we take such incidents extremely seriously and work with schools and other agencies to put plans in place to ensure the safety children, staff and the wider community.”

Southill Primary have their own emergency planning arrangements but the county council has been in contact with them.

A spokesman for Dorset Police added: "Dorset Police was called to reports of threats to three schools. These were made to Pokesdown Community Primary School in Bournemouth, Sherborne Primary School in Sherborne and Southill Primary School in Weymouth. The threats were made by a telephone call to each school.

"The schools were evacuated as a precaution and a search was carried out. At this time, it is believed the threats were a malicious hoax and there is no direct risk to pupils, staff or the wider community.

"We take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public."