STUDENTS were left in tears when a bomb scare meant they had to abandon their exams.

Brighton and Hove High School was evacuated yesterday morning after a hoax call at 10am and the students had to wait in silence for 45 minutes to maintain exam conditions.

About 80 students had about 20 minutes to go on mostly GCSE's and some AS-Levels when the call came in and they were taken outside.

They had to wait opposite the school without speaking to each other while police searched the building in Montpelier Road.

Year 12 ethics student Hannah Fraser, 17, said: "The head came over to us and said there had been a bomb hoax and we needed to stay there until the all-clear.

"It was very difficult for us all because no-one could talk to each other because it was exam conditions.

"It was quite scary because we did not really know what was going to happen and we were worried about our exams.

"Several girls were crying - I think they were just really overwhelmed by the situation.

"I was quite annoyed - I would have liked to go back in and carry on.

"I liked the questions on my paper - they were all good.

"I hope it doesn't affect our mark - it's just very frustrating because it seems like all the work put in has just gone to waste."

The students did not get to return and finish their tests, which will be marked and graded with the exam board taking what happened into consideration.

It is thought the school may have been the latest victim in a series of hoax calls that has seen up to 50 schools across the country evacuated this week.

On Monday hoax calls were made to Ringmer Primary School and Kingsham Primary School near Chichester.

Most of the students taking exams at the school were doing English Literature GCSE.

One Year 11 student told The Argus: "At first the fire alarm went off and we were told to just carry on writing.

"Then we had to leave in silence in alphabetical order and leave all our stuff in the room.

"It was hard because were were not allowed to communicate with each other.

"I was really scared because I had not heard of the other ones that were going on around the country.

"It was quite alarming and a lot of the girls found it quite scary.

"It was annoying because a lot of people worked really hard for this exam."

Headteacher Jennifer Smith praised students' "calm and resilient response".

The calls are being investigated but police do not believe there was a credible threat to the school.