Armed police and a helicopter descended on a secondary school this afternoon after reports of "masked men carrying knives" and an "incursion".

Firearms officers were on the scene "within minutes" following a call about a "potential hostage-taking incident" at Abbeyfield School in Mereway, Northamptonshire, the county's police said.

Police then carried out a sweep of the grounds while Abbeyfield was placed under emergency lockdown.

A spokesman for the force said later on Friday: "We deployed firearms officers within minutes of the report coming into us.

"Following a search of the school we can confirm that nobody has been taken hostage, nobody has suffered any injuries, no weapons have been recovered and nobody has been arrested in connection with any offences.

"While we understand this was a deeply upsetting turn of events, we would like to reassure members of the school community and those living within the immediate vicinity of the school that police are not treating this as a terrorism-related incident.

"Officers are still at the school, but are expected to be stood down shortly," the spokesman said just before 6pm.

Police have also urged members of the public with information about the "upsetting" afternoon to get in touch on 101 quoting reference 298 of May 9, 2025.