A PRIMARY school was praised for its swift actions after a pupil reported they had seen a man outside the school brandishing a knife.

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy near The Stow initiated its safety protocols after (YH understands) a pupil reported seeing a male with a knife over the school fence.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We received a call at 1.30pm on Wednesday 4 October to reports of someone seen with a large knife in the Cooks Spinney area of Harlow.

“Officers attended and detained two teenage boys who were searched but no weapon was found.

The officers established they had been helping one of their parents clear some rubbish including chopping up a tree stump.

“No offences were identified”.

A Cooks Spinney parent (who did not wish to be named) told YH. “I have nothing but praise for the school in the swift action it took and their clear and calm line of communication’.