A number of schools went into lockdown with children told to stay indoors after a member of public spotted a man with a weapon - which police say was 'possibly an encased shotgun'
People were asked to avoid Malton in North Yorkshire after reports to police of a suspicious vehicle and potential firearms incident.
Local school were locked down while the investigation is ongoing and a police helicopter was seen hovering overhead - sparking alarm amongst parents who were 'sick with worry'.
A thorough search was carried out and it is not believed there is a security risk to anyone in the town.
In a statement, officers told York Press that "a man was seen with a weapon, possibly an encased shotgun, by a member of the public near a school in the town.
"Further investigation has suggested the man left the area and headed towards a rural location away from people and property.
"At no point has the man spoken to anyone or made any suggestion anyone was at risk"
A local resident posted to Facebook shortly before 1pm and said: "My mum is inside Malton Primary –they’re all still on lockdown at the moment, no one in or out.”
Another said St Mary’s School was "in lockdown procedure”.
And a third said they’d had an "email from school says that they are in lockdown and no one is to ring the school so the lines can be kept free for police use”.
In an email seen by Yorkshire Live, Norton Community Primary School told parents the school was in lockdown at around 12.30pm today.
It reads: "We have put the school into lockdown due to an incident in the local area. The police have asked us to stay inside, the children are safe, please do not come to collect your child early.
"If there are any changes in circumstances, we will inform you."
Parents have been using social media to ask the police for more information, with one saying their daughter is "petrified".
The mum tweeted: "Any updates on why all schools in Malton/Norton are in lockdown?
"Struggling to find info and my daughter is absolutely petrified in school at moment. Thank you."
Another parent replied: "All of Malton is locked down.
"There’s a suspicious guy on the loose, some reports are saying he has a gun.
"Our daughter is in school too. Police everywhere though, hopefully it’ll be sorted asap."
In a tweet, North Yorkshire Police has said: "Police presence in Malton today.
"Officers are currently deployed in Malton following a report from a member of the public about a vehicle in suspicious circumstances."
In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said: "Just before 12pm we received an understandably worried call from a school in the area after a member of the public contacted them regarding a man acting suspiciously close by.
"As a result, the school initiated their own lockdown procedures and contacted other schools in the area, who did the same. Armed officers and the NPAS helicopter were deployed to the area.
"Following a thorough search of the area and further investigation, it appears there is no heightened threat to the public or schools in the area.
"A number of officers are outside of local schools to provide reassurance and engaging with worried parents and students.
"Neighbourhood sergeant Paul Gibson-Hodges, said: “We completely understand the worry and panic this incident has caused, nothing upsets us more than thinking children are at risk and we now know this is not the case.
“A man was seen with a weapon, possibly an encased shotgun, by a member of the public near a school in the town.
"Further investigation has suggested the man left the area and headed towards a rural location away from people and property.
“At no point has the man spoken to anyone or made any suggestion anyone was at risk.
“The schools should be praised for their quick-thinking to protect their pupils and staff from potential harm.
"However, we do ask that members of the public refrain from speculating about this incident as this is likely to cause more distress to the children in the area.
“If you are a parent of a child in one of the effected schools you may want to talk to your child about this incident. There are lots of websites with excellent information on how to approach difficult subjects, including CBeebies and the NSPCC.”
