A GLASTONBURY infants school and nursery implemented ‘lockdown’ procedures – with parents and carers told not to go – as police dealt with an incident in the town centre.

At just after 1pm, St John’s Infant School and Jumping John’s Nursery, in the High Street, notified parents and carers on social media of the move, “for yours and your children’s safety” as police deal with an incident in the area.

“We are currently in lockdown due to an incident in the town,” the post said. “Please do not come to the school until you are given the go-ahead. This is for yours and your children’s safety.”

Your Leveller understands police officers advised the school to keep children inside while they dealt with an incident in the High Street area, and that all children were safe and the incident was not on school premises.

Avon & Somerset Police have been contacted for comment.

Now, headteacher Kerry Devane has updated parents and carers, saying the move came after a phone call from a nearby nursery “informing us that a male posing significant threat was present in the car park near the library”.

“The lockdown was from 1.10pm until 2.25pm . All staff and children remained in the classroom and the police were in attendance. The Lockdown procedure continued until we were given the all clear from the emergency services.

“The police have asked us to remain vigilant as a community and call 999 if we see anything suspicious.”

The headteacher added: “I am proud of the staff and students who followed our Lockdown procedures as instructed. While no environment is absolutely risk free, we take safety seriously at St John’s C of E VC Infants school and practice our emergency procedures each term.

“It would be a great help if you could talk through this incident with your child to ensure that they understand what happened and why. It is important to reassure them that school is a safe place.”