Several schools in Redbridge were targeted by a hoax bomb threat, which triggered panic and evacuations nationwide.

More than 400 schools across the UK were thought to have received the message on Monday, claiming a student was carrying a bomb.

It demanded $5,000 be transferred to the sender, or the device would be detonated in three hours’ time, followed by more writing in Arabic script.

"If you do not send the money! We will blow up the device. Our site has all the information needed,” the message reportedly read.

"If you try to call the cops we WILL blowup the device on the SPOT! ANY attempt at defusing it your self will cause it to explode."

Redbridge Council told the Guardian Series a number of local authority schools in the borough were among those to receive the threat.

“A number of schools across London, including some Redbridge schools, received a bomb threat email yesterday morning,” a council spokesman said.

“Individual schools contacted the Metropolitan Police and the Local Authority who provided a response and guidance.

“Once it became clear that a considerable number of schools across the country had received this email, all other schools in Redbridge were given advice about what to do if they subsequently received the same email.’

Met Police said it was investigating a number of threats sent to schools across the capital, although the incident was not thought to be terror-related.

“The Met has received a number of reports relating to malicious communications sent to schools across London on Monday,” a spokesman for the force said.

“These are currently being treated as hoaxes. At this stage there is no evidence to suggest that this is terror-related.”