Walsall College evacuated as bomb hoaxes sent to hundreds of UK schools

The college stayed shut after announcing on its social media pages at 11.44am that it was clearing all of its campuses due to a bomb threat.

However West Midlands Police said there was nothing to suggest there was any credibly threat to any of the schools or colleges targeted.

Walsall College - which has around 15,000 students enrolled across campuses in Wisemore, Green Lane, Broadway and Portland Street - was one of more than 400 UK schools and colleges sent bomb threats.

The schools were all sent emails which claimed devices had been planted and demanded cash.

West Midlands Police said a 'number of schools' in the West Midlands had received the email, but has not confirmed which institutions were targeted.

A statement released by the force said: "We are investigating emails sent to a number of schools in the West Midlands this morning making bomb threats - at this stage it is believed they are false and malicious.

"At around 9.45am emails started to be sent to schools and colleges across the region making the threat.

"There is nothing to suggest there is any credible threat to any of the schools.

"A police investigation is on-going to find those responsible.

"Police take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public.

"We would ask you to remain vigilant and report and suspicious behaviour to police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The hoaxes come two years after a spate of fake threats were sent to schools across the West Midlands.

More than 20 schools, the majority of which were in the Black Country, were targeted over four weeks in January and February 2016.

The most disruption happened on January 28 when 14 schools were targeted and Oldbury and Bristnall Hall academies were evacuated for the third time in 10 days.