AROUND 35 children from a feeder primary school for the three Sandwell schools affected by today's bomb scare have been taken home by anxious parents.

Parents who collected children from Bristnall Hall Academy, Oldbury Academy and Holly Lodge High School, Smethwick, were allowed to take siblings from Uplands Manor Primary School, Smethwick.

Headteacher Paul Moore said: "We are the main feeder school for the affected secondary schools and as parents received text messages to say they were closing, they asked if they could pick up siblings.

"There was no need for them to remove their children and we have reassured parents that there have been no threats made against our school but to alleviate their fear we have allowed some children to be picked up."

He blamed the panic on "mis-information and Chinese whispers" after parents were sent vague text messages informing them that police had advised they be evacuated but with no explanation of why.

Leasowes High School, Halesowen, which also affected by the bomb scare calls does not appear to have closed.

Sandwell Council is working with West Midlands Police and there is no suggestion of any other threat to other schools in Sandwell.

Parents are being reassured everything is being done to ensure the safety of the children and there is no reason to panic.

The Harry Mitchell Centre in Broomfield, Smethwick, has been opened for children who have had to leave school and aren’t able to get home.

Youth workers have also been deployed in the area to assist any children getting home or to the Harry Mitchell Centre.

The calls were received between around 9am and 9.30am and police are investigating.

Anyone with information which may aid officers should call police on 101.