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10 March 2011
Last updated at 10:12 ET
Armed police are searching an area of Hove for three men after an officer was threatened with a gun.
The Sussex police helicopter has joined the search of the area around Coleridge Street.
Two secondary schools - Blatchington Mill and Hove Park - were advised to keep pupils indoors and parents were asked to stay away.
The head teacher of Blatchington Mill said all the pupils "are safe and are behaving exceptionally well".
Sussex Police initially said the men were carrying "an offensive weapon" which was not a firearm, but later revealed an officer had been threatened with a gun.
A spokeswoman for the force said armed police were at the scene supporting local officers.
She could not give the numbers of officers involved.
Police in schools Ch Supt Graham Bartlett said: "The head teachers at nearby schools have been advised and we are asking parents not to attend the schools at this stage.
"The pupils are all being kept inside the buildings, however there is no threat to their safety and police officers are also present.
"Armed officers are currently searching the area for the men and we would ask anyone who sees three men acting suspiciously in the area to contact police immediately."
A police spokesperson has confirmed one of the three men threatened an officer with a gun.
Earlier, Janet Felkin, head teacher at Blatchington Mill, a secondary school and sixth form college, posted a statement on the school's website.
She said: "An incident is being followed up by the police. They are searching for three men who are in the Hove area.
"As a precaution they have asked that we keep our students in the building.
"I am being kept regularly informed and I will keep you informed via this website.
"Your children are safe and are behaving exceptionally well, considering they are missing their fresh air break. I hope you can make it up to them when they tell you all about it later."
At 1500 GMT, Ms Felkin posted a statement which said the school had returned to normal and students would be leaving at the usual time.
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The Sussex police helicopter has joined the search of the area around Coleridge Street.
Two secondary schools - Blatchington Mill and Hove Park - were advised to keep pupils indoors and parents were asked to stay away.
The head teacher of Blatchington Mill said all the pupils "are safe and are behaving exceptionally well".
Sussex Police initially said the men were carrying "an offensive weapon" which was not a firearm, but later revealed an officer had been threatened with a gun.
A spokeswoman for the force said armed police were at the scene supporting local officers.
She could not give the numbers of officers involved.
Police in schools Ch Supt Graham Bartlett said: "The head teachers at nearby schools have been advised and we are asking parents not to attend the schools at this stage.
"The pupils are all being kept inside the buildings, however there is no threat to their safety and police officers are also present.
"Armed officers are currently searching the area for the men and we would ask anyone who sees three men acting suspiciously in the area to contact police immediately."
A police spokesperson has confirmed one of the three men threatened an officer with a gun.
Earlier, Janet Felkin, head teacher at Blatchington Mill, a secondary school and sixth form college, posted a statement on the school's website.
She said: "An incident is being followed up by the police. They are searching for three men who are in the Hove area.
"As a precaution they have asked that we keep our students in the building.
"I am being kept regularly informed and I will keep you informed via this website.
"Your children are safe and are behaving exceptionally well, considering they are missing their fresh air break. I hope you can make it up to them when they tell you all about it later."
At 1500 GMT, Ms Felkin posted a statement which said the school had returned to normal and students would be leaving at the usual time.
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