Howden School in the East Riding of Yorkshire was placed in lockdown this morning following reports of a potential gunman on the premises. Parents have described a scene of chaos as students and staff were instructed to barricade themselves in classrooms using tables, chairs, and metal bars to secure the doors.

One concerned parent recounted the situation, stating, "The school was put on lockdown because of a gunman on the school grounds. They were forced to barricade themselves in classrooms and put a metal bar to bolt the doors shut."

The school confirmed the lockdown on its website, explaining that it was a precautionary measure. A statement from the school indicated that authorities conducted a thorough assessment and concluded there was no actual threat, labelling the incident a false alarm.

The statement read: "This morning a lockdown had to be in place for a short period of time. Our lockdown procedures were followed as per our policy. A thorough assessment was completed by the authorities and determined that there was no actual threat and was deemed to be a false alarm."

The school reassured parents that the lockdown procedures were executed quickly and calmly, with students remaining supervised throughout the incident. They acknowledged the unsettling nature of such situations and emphasised that the safety and wellbeing of the school community is their highest priority.

The school also encouraged parents to reach out if they felt their child might need additional support following the incident. The swift response and communication from the school aimed to alleviate concerns among parents and guardians in the aftermath of the lockdown.