A primary school in Stoke-on-Trent was placed into lockdown following reports of a man with a firearm in the area. The Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff in Fenton shut its doors to pupils and staff as a precaution on the afternoon of February 5.
Police were called to Carron Street at around 3.20pm after receiving reports of a man acting suspiciously with a possible handgun. Armed officers attended the scene and recovered an air pistol, a knife and a hatchet. A 26-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of weapons offences and taken into custody.
Parents collecting their children were kept within the school grounds during the incident, which lasted from approximately 3.10pm to 3.50pm. A text message sent to parents said children were being kept inside as a precaution after a member of the public reported a possible danger in the locality.
Further messages reassured parents that children were safe and that the lockdown was advised by police, with concerns limited to the journey home. An all-clear was later issued.
Staffordshire Police said officers would continue to patrol the area to reassure the local community and have appealed for any relevant information, including CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage.
