A number of Northern Ireland schools have been evacuated following ‘malicious communications’.

It is not clear how many schools have been affected, however the Irish Independent reports that children at Kilmaine in Co Down were told ‘to leave lunch boxes and coats behind’ in an ‘urgent evacuation’.

It is also reported that police do not think the incidents are terror-related, however a local councillor has expressed outrage saying these calls have to stop.

The evacuations follow seven other Northern Ireland schools which were evacuated earlier this week along with schools in the Republic and the UK.

Police are currently investigating the matter and looking to see if it connected to the earlier disruptions to schools made earlier this week.