Acting Sergeant Lachlan Barr said a call was received around 3pm saying there was a bomb at the school.

Teachers and pupils immediately moved to the school’s evacuation point on the nearby Jones Oval.

Nicholson Street was blocked while police searched the school.

No bomb was found and the scene was cleared at 5.30pm.

Acting Sergeant Barr said police were treating the matter very seriously.

He said the hoax had been a huge inconvenience for staff, pupils, parents, and people driving on the busy Nicholson Street.

As the incident occurred close to school pick-up time, children were collected from Jones Oval, however bags and belongings had to be left behind at the school during the evacuation.

4.45pm: Warrnambool East Primary School has been evacuated after a threat was made.

Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh said officers were at the school.

“Members are clearing the school,” he said.

“We are following protocol after a threat was called in.”

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