Pupils at a north Norfolk high school were evacuated over fears that an unexploded shell was brought onto the site.

Police were called to Alderman Peel High School in Wells at 10.25am today following reports that a boy had brought an unexploded shell which was found on the beach into the school.

Headmaster Alastair Ogle said the school was evacuated due to concerns about "a scrap of metal" that was brought in but that pupils had now returned to their classrooms.

He added: "We had a pupil come in with a piece of metal off the beach. We weren't sure if it was something we should be concerned about or not.

"We left it where it was, a classroom at the back of the school, and we evacuated and called the police, as is normal procedure.

"It was a piece of cylindrical metal which was quite corroded, about the length of a pen.

"We got some advice from the police who attended, and told us that it was safe. The children are now back in school.

"Someone is going to come and collect it this afternoon.

"All the procedures worked really well and the staff were excellent. All the students were fantastic and the staff followed procedure to the letter.

"We are pleased that it was nothing more to be concerned about. We didn't want to take any chances and we did we did what we should've done."

Police were in attendance and the explosive ordnance disposal team were also called to the scene, however Mr Ogle said they were not needed.