Eight Sussex schools have received bomb hoaxes today. 

More than 400 schools in England have received a hoax email threatening to detonate a bomb on school grounds if money is not handed over, police said.

A number of schools across the county have been evacuated -although it is not thought any Sussex schools have.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police have received eight calls from schools across Sussex who had emails claiming there were bombs in the schools.

"The emails have similarities which have been received at other schools across the UK and remain under investigation as malicious hoaxes.

"Any parents concerned about their children should contact the school they attend or the local education authority for further advice and information while the matter is further investigated.

"If a similar email is received by a school then please contact police on 101 or report on line, or in the case of any other threat then please contact police on 999."

Schools in London, Manchester, Northumbria and North Yorkshire are among those that received the email.