Police advised schools to be placed in lockdown after reports of a suspected gunman on the loose – only to find it was a boy in fancy dress with a toy gun.
Multiple police units, including armed officers, attended Frith Road in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, at about 11.10 BST on Wednesday.
Sussex Police advised nearby schools to implement a temporary lockdown while they searched the area.
Ch Insp Dave Groombridge said: “I’d like to reassure the community we have identified the person who was subject to these reports, a 14-year-old local boy who was wearing fancy dress.
“We have visited him and his family, and can confirm he had a toy gun with him at the time – and was not in possession of any offensive weapons.”
He added he understood the incident “caused concern” but is confident those who reported the incident did so “with the best intentions”.
“I am pleased to say there is no threat to the wider community,” he added.
The schools later re-opened.
