A south east London primary school was locked down as police searched for a man with a knife in the area.

Redriff Primary School in Rotherhithe sent a text out to parents warning them of a “police situation” but advising that the children were safe and inside the school, reported Southwark News.

Police were called to Salter Road at around 1pm on Tuesday, September 19 following reports of a man spotted in a wooded area believed to be in possession of a knife.

A thorough search of the area was carried out but police did not find anyone matching the description.

The school has said that is has a “stringent safeguarding and lockdown protocol” and that the children were kept “safe and calm” until they could be picked up at the end of the day as normal.

A City of London Academies Trust spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our students and staff is our number one priority.

“The school has stringent safeguarding and lockdown protocol.

“The children were kept safe and calm until parents were able to collect them as normal at the end of the school day.

“The headteacher worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service whilst they investigated the incident.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at around 13.05hrs to reports of a man seen in a wooded area at Salter Road SE16 believed to be in possession of a knife.

“Officers attended the scene and carried out a thorough search of the area.

“Nobody matching the description was found.”