A gunman is on the loose with a town in lockdown after he reportedly threatened a daycare centre.

The mayor of Highlands, in North Carolina, said a 911 call was made by someone saying they had a gun and a daycare at Highlands Episcopal Church "within their line of sight".

According to officials, a second call came in reporting seeing a person that matched the description of the person making the threat. Downtown stores have been asked to close and people asked to avoid the area.

19:58 Tim Hanlon

Daycare centres evacuated with lockdown ongoing

Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor says that Episcopal Daycare Center, Highlands Daycare Center, and the Methodist Daycare were all evacuated.

K-12 Highlands School is in lockdown and there will be a secure pickup at the end of the day with police present.

The mayor says that the suspect has not yet been identified. NCSBI is now assisting along with the county sheriff’s office.

19:52 Tim Hanlon

Authorities do not believe gunman is a hoax

Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor says they believe the threat to be genuine and not a hoax.

The person is understood to have called emergency services twice and also claimed there was a bomb in the daycare centre, located at the church. A bomb disposal team from Asheville has gone to the town.

19:51 Tim Hanlon

Schools and nurseries in Highlands placed in lockdown

Officials said all daycare facilities downtown and the Highlands School while police investigate the incident.

Additionally, the mayor said a bomb threat was also made so the Asheville bomb squad has been called in to help.

Shops are being asked to close and the community is asked to to avoid the town centre.