Copyright dailystar
"Hysterical" kids were seen desperately trying to scale fences after a suspected gunman was spotted nearby schools earlier today. Armed police are on the hunt for a "man with a firearm" in Bognor Regis, following a series of school lockdowns. Reports of a man brandishing what appeared to be a gun on Frith Road in Bognor Regis emerged after 11am today (October 22). Schools in the vicinity were put into lockdown but have since resumed normal operations. Terrified school pupils were left "hysterical and sobbing" and unable to call their parents while locked inside, the Sun reports . Sara Whitworth, who has two children in the school, said: “The whole school has just been placed in full lockdown. “I have gone down to collect my children and they are just hysterical. I have never witnessed anything like that." The suspected gunman has still not been apprehended, as the police search continues. The main school affected is The Regis School, a secondary 11-18 academy with close to 1,600 pupils, which is next door to the Arena Sports Centre. Ms Whitworth added: "There are children in the leisure centre next door who were stuck in there for two or three hours. There are children climbing over fences to get out. “Kids are trying to call their parents and then being told off for using their phones. It has just been so poorly managed. There are dogs and probably five police cars in the car park. It is just carnage. “Parents are now turning up to pick up their children. My daughter was just hysterical and sobbing.” Sussex Police confirmed that armed officers are scouring the area. A spokesperson for the force stated: "At around 11.10am today police received a report of a man seen with a suspected firearm in Firth Road, Bognor. "Due to the close proximity of nearby schools, police advised them to implement temporary lockdown procedures while searches of the area were carried out. "All schools have since reopened. Wider search activity, including armed officers, is ongoing, and a visible police presence continues in the area." The spokesperson further added: "Anyone with information or footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact police online or by calling 101, quoting reference 450 of 22/10. In an emergency, always dial 999."
