PARENTS have been warned to be extra vigilant after a mother reported seeing a knifeman outside a primary school just days after the machete nursery attack in the Midlands.

The parent immediately alerted the head of St Mary's RC School, Bacup, Michael Kermath who with other staff and parents searched the area.

He said: "The parent came into school on Friday before lessons started and said she had seen a dishevelled man with a knife in his hand.

"We made an immediate investigation and informed the police and they checked out the area, but we did not find anyone.

"We are taking it seriously and the police are monitoring the situation. We always take the safety of our children very seriously."

Mr Kermath said he had informed parents of the school's 220 pupils of what had happened and had asked that they be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the school and the police.

He said his school had stepped up security after

the Dunblane tragedy and had followed Lancashire County Council guidelines and the advice of police and the fire service.

The school made an unsuccessful application to the Home Office for security cameras to cover the building in Tong Lane. The school will be applying again.

Mr Kermath added: "Most of the children were unaware of the incident and hopefully this will be an end to the matter."

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