Schools sealed in hunt for gunmen

Three men are being hunted by police today after an officer was threatened with a gun by one of the men.

Pupils at two nearby schools are being kept inside whilst officers search the area around Coleridge Street, Hove, East Sussex.

Firearms officers and the force helicopter, H900, also joined the hunt following the alert this morning at around 11.45am, Sussex Police said.

A police spokesman said: "There are no threats to nearby schools Blatchington Mill and Hove Park.

"However, the schools have been informed of the incident and advised to keep pupils inside as a precaution."

Parents were advised by police not to collect their children while the search for the three suspects continued.

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett said: "The head teachers at nearby schools have been advised and we are asking parents not to attend the schools at this stage.

"The pupils are all being kept inside the buildings. However, there is no threat to their safety and police officers are also present.

"Armed officers are currently searching the area for the men and we would ask anyone who sees three men acting suspiciously in the area to contact police immediately."