A VALLEY primary school was the target of a bomb scare.

Police were called to Holy Trinity CE Primary in Stacksteads after a call was made to the school saying a bomb would be planted there.

John Aspin, headteacher of the Booth Road school, said: "We received a phone call on Tuesday morning from somebody saying they were going to plant a bomb at the school, and then they put the phone down.

"We contacted the police immediately, and took the necessary precautions by locking the school gates and securing the premises, and controlling all access to the school.

"The police said that this was clearly a hoax call, but you have to take all such things seriously, and officers said we took all the correct measures."

A letter was sent out to all parents on Wednesday, to explain about the "scare".

Mr Aspin said: "Although nothing actually happened on Tuesday, word did get out to some parents and the facts got wildly exaggerated.

"Some parents panicked, understandably, and a handful of pupils were taken home early that day.

"But most parents were reassured once I explained to them what had happened. The safety of all pupils is of paramount importance, and there was absolutely no danger to any of them, it was just a phone call.

"My daughter is in year three, and I would not have my child in school if I thought there was, as I said to parents.

He added: "This incident was more of an inconvenience than anything else. The police told us not to be too concerned as such hoaxes are not uncommon these days, but it's the first time it has happened to us and we acted in what we think is the correct way.

"Some people clearly just want to cause unnecessary disruption and upset."

The police said they will be contacting BT to try to trace the call.