Armed police lock down school after call about gun

Police officers and armed offenders did not find anyone in relation to reports of a man with a gun in Aramoho yesterday. Photo/Stuart Munro

Lunchtime at Churton School was cut short yesterday as the armed offenders squad swooped on the grounds.

Police received a call at about 1pm saying there was a man with a gun on the school grounds. It turned out to be a hoax.

Pupils were on their lunch break when police rang the school and told it to go into lockdown.

Police blocked off Somme Parade at Quick Ave in Aramoho and did not let traffic through for over an hour as the armed offenders team searched the grounds and the hills and paddock behind the school.

Churton principal Andrew Spence said they rang the school bell to get everyone inside and communicated with teachers by cellphone. The school tried to operate as usual with lessons continuing.

"We were conscious there was a due process to follow," Mr Spence said. "We needed to follow the instructions of the police ... what we were trying to do was to keep the routine as usual as possible."

Children were not given too much information other than police were coming on to the school grounds.

"We didn't want to alarm students but we kept staff fully informed," Mr Spence said.

Meanwhile, concerned parents were calling the school.

Police gave the all-clear at about 2.30pm after finding no trace of the alleged gunman.

Pupils were called to the hall for Mr Spence to explain what had happened and a note was sent home to parents.

"We wanted to get that information to the kids and the parents and staff so that it was a similar message and so there was no misinformation."

He said there would be support available for students.

Whanganui area commander Inspector Steve Mastrovich said police had a "really good search" and were unable to locate anyone with a firearm.

Photo/Stuart Munro

Police would be "checking out addresses" and driving around the area, but were "not actively seeking an armed offender".

"We will be talking to a few people to see if we can nail down who it was that came up with the information," Mr Mastrovich said.

It was possible that the caller had been pulling a prank and police would be looking into whether it was "malicious".

"The kids have had quite an interesting little interlude this afternoon, but nobody's been in any danger or upset ... except maybe parents."