Leyland schools and nurseries go into lockdown after knifeman spotted near school grounds

Police rushed to the Broadfield area after the man was seen in the vicinity of a number of schools around Haig Avenue at around 3pm.

Yewlands Day Nursery went into lockdown for around 45 minutes while officers flooded the area to search for the man. It’s understood that Northbrook and St Mary’s primary schools also took action to protect pupils.

A man in his 30s was later arrested and taken into custody.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “We were called at shortly after 3pm yesterday (Thursday, September 14) to reports a man had been seen with a knife on Bannister Drive, Leyland.

"Officers attended and a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of threats and affray. He remains in custody.”

Yewlands Nursery later messaged parents to inform them of what had happened and the steps taken to protect their children.

The message said: “Just a quick note to let you all know that we had to go into lockdown this afternoon after reports of a person in and around nursery/surrounding primary schools with a knife.

"The children practice lockdown fortnightly and are extremely good at this and remained calm.

"Your children may come home and tell you about this themselves – please praise them as they were amazing.

"We were in lockdown for around 45 minutes – I am very proud of them all for their outstanding behaviour.”