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A 'hoax threat' email has been sent to a number of schools in Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area. LIPA School in Liverpool City Centre had told parents to stay away after a bomb threat, and a threat to cause harm, was made against the school, reports the Liverpool ECHO.

Chesterfield High School in Crosby has confirmed it was one of several Merseyside schools that received malicious communications in the early hours of this morning. Merseyside police have said they believe these emails are hoaxes, with officers looking to identify those involved to take appropriate action. Chief Inspector Phil Thompson said: "We understand that parents and carers will be concerned and as a result we are liaising with all schools and providing advice and reassurance as enquiries continue. Based on the information we have received and assessed, there has been no requirement for those schools to close."

In a letter shared with the ECHO, parents were informed the school had been forced to close for the day on Monday, March 9, due to a threat to cause harm.

The letter explains how these threats are often hoaxes, but claims due to "heightened media attention" it is now a "credible risk".

The school said it is working with Merseyside Police, with officers seen inside the school this morning.

LIPA School headteacher Claire McKendrick said in her letter to parents: "I am writing to inform you that we have made the unfortunate decision to close the school today. This morning, the school received a bomb threat and a threat to cause harm.

"Whilst these types of messages are, in most cases, hoaxes, the heightened media attention surrounding the school in recent days means we must treat this as a serious and credible risk.

"We are currently working closely with Merseyside Police, who are supporting us in ensuring the safety of our pupils, staff, and wider community."

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"I appreciate that this will cause disruption and concern, and I sincerely apologise for that. However, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils, families and staff must always come first.

"We advise families not to enter the school building until we are able to confirm that it is safe to return."

Chesterfield High School revealed that upon discovery of the email a malicious email this morning, its leadership team took the decision to enter a temporary lockdown procedure a per national policy.

Emergency services were also contacted.

A statement from the headteacher read: "We liaised with officers from Merseyside Police on site who advised our leadership team that they did not believe the communications in question to be credible.

"Following this guidance we took the decision to lift the temporary lockdown and normal learning has resumed.

"We would like to thank our staff and pupils for their impeccable behaviour in observing and adhering to our procedures."

If you have any information about these threats, you can call 101 or DM @MerpolCC on social media. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

LIPA school shares a name with Paul McCartney's arts institute but is run by a separate trust.

Last year the school received a damning Ofsted report which plunged it into special measures, before safety concerns saw the school close days before the end of the summer term, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

The school will close this summer after years of financial overspending left it with a large deficit, a letter to parents has confirmed.

The decision also followed an inadequate Ofsted rating, falling pupil numbers and concerns over unsuitable facilities.

Chesterfield High School in Crosby is a large secondary acedemy and sixth form with around 1,400 students.