School alert was 'elaborate hoax'

Pupils and staff were moved to a church hall

A bomb alert outside a school in Larne has been declared an elaborate hoax.

Two controlled explosions were carried out by Army bomb disposal experts on a suspect object which was found outside Larne Grammar.

A meeting of Larne District Policing Parntership scheduled to take place at the school later will go ahead as planned.

The object was discovered at the school gates by a pupil shortly before 0900 BST.

Pupils and staff were moved to a church hall for a time as a result of it.

Councillor Jack McKee, a member of the DPP, said the incident was a clear attempt to intimidate.

We will go ahead with the meeting - we will not be put off by this John Wilson Principal

"It is not only disruptive for the children, who should be safe in their school environment, but it's also obvious that the device was left to coincide with the DPP meeting."

Inspector Noel Rogan of Larne PSNI said: "All they achieved was to disrupt the children and cause fear with their parents.

"I can assure their parents that the children were entirely safe at all stages.

"There is still a buoyant mood with the children.

"They are attending a public meeting of the District Policing Partnership board - they are looking forward to that and that is still taking place."

Principal John Wilson said the school was "just accommodating a meeting place for the DPP".

"We have no connection with the DPP. I think it is useful, from an education point of view, for pupils to see how the DPP works.

"We will go ahead with the meeting - we will not be put off by this."