POLICE say they are "confident" that a number of bomb threats emailed to schools today are hoaxes.

According to Humberside Police, more than 400 schools and colleges across the country were sent emails claiming that a device had been planted and demanding cash.

In a statement, Gloucestershire Constabulary said: "Gloucestershire Constabulary has received a number of reports of schools receiving emailed bomb threats today, Monday, March 19.

"This appears to be part of a national hoax and our colleagues in other forces are receiving similar reports.

"We are confident that it is a hoax, and not a genuine threat to life.

"Our advice is not to panic but remain vigilant and carry on with business as usual, report any incidents to police and keep anything which could be used as evidence in the future.

"Police take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said that they had received reports of threats at five schools with all being treated as hoaxes.