Schools went into lockdown with children said to have been stuck in a leisure centre for hours after a report of a gunman roaming nearby.

Pupils were said to be ‘hysterical and sobbing’ and unable to call their parents as teachers took security precautions.

Armed police attended the area in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, following the report of a man with a gun this morning.

Officers with dogs and using patrol cars conducted a search as schools were temporarily placed in lockdown.

The hunt is continuing with the suspect not yet detained.

The Regis School, which is next to the Arena Sports Centre in the coastal town, was the main place of learning affected.

The secondary 11-18 academy, which has close to 1,600 pupils, kept children inside the centre during the incident. Sara Whitworth, wh

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