Police have quashed rumours on social media that a man with a gun was spotted near to schools today.

Two schools took action this morning over the alleged incident.

Posts on Facebook claimed that police were dealing with an incident that involved "a man with a gun" in the Bridgemary area of Gosport.

Brockhurst Primary School and Bridgemary School - two Gosport schools that are a 40-minute walk apart - both took "procedures" over the rumours.

However, officers confirmed to the Echo that they were not dealing with any incidents in the area.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are aware of concerns circulating throughout the community in Gosport, centring on rumours of a police incident involving a man with a gun.

"Please be aware that this is not factual – police have not been responding to a firearms incident and there is no identified threat to the public.

"We have been contacting schools and partners to reassure them of this."

Officers confirmed that there had been no incident of its kind at all - not even one that did not involve an armed man.

Bridgemary School on Wych Lane posted on Facebook at 11.30am that they were "aware" of an alleged incident and that the school had been "liaising" with police throughout the morning.

The school confirmed to the Echo that it did not go into lockdown but other actions, agreed with the police, were taken to safeguard the students.

The school's full post said: "We are aware that there has been a police incident in the Bridgemary area this morning.

"We have been liaising with them during the morning and have used their advice and our own procedures to ensure that students have been safe and able to continue their learning."

Brockhurst Primary School on Avery Lane, which said it was not affected, said it did take procedures in a similar statement on Facebook at 11.38am.

The primary school said: "We are aware that there has been a police incident in the Bridgemary area this morning. Although this did not affect us, we have used our own procedures to ensure that students have been safe.

"We have now been advised that the incident has concluded."

Brockhurst Primary School has been approached for comment.