A 31-year-old man from Stevenage has been charged in connection with bomb scare hoax at Shefford Lower School.

Scott Spraggs, of Vinters Avenue, was arrested and has since been charged with bomb hoax, communicating false information and criminal damage offences.

The charges relate to an alleged bomb threat at Shefford Lower School which was reported to Bedfordshire Police at 11.25am on Thursday, December 7.

Pupils and staff were evacuated to the nearby Robert Bloomfield Academy while officers searched the School Lane site.

It was later established that the incident, initially referred to only as a “security concern”, was a hoax.

Following the incident, a message to parents from the school said: “Everything is confirmed safe, and children and staff are back in Shefford Lower School. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”