Mount Saint Agnes School was evacuated yesterday after a hoaxer claimed to have planted six pipe bombs.

The 600 students were forced to abandon the building in central Hamilton for two hours after a secretary received the call at 11.40 a.m.

School head teacher Sister Judith Rollo said she had no idea why anyone would carry out the hoax but she feared there would be copycat calls such as occurred at Bermuda schools more than two decades ago.

The students, including those from the MSA nursery, were forced to gather in Victoria Park until 1.40 p.m.

The school sent out for emergency supplies of 50 dozen bottles of water from Dunkley's Dairy as the students waited in the lunchtime heat.

Police blocked off Dundonald Street, Elliott Street and Washington Street North while a bomb disposal team searched the building before giving the all-clear.

Afterwards, Sister Judith said: "I was teaching and one of the secretaries got a call saying there were six pipe bombs planted around the school.

"I was just around the corner and we evacuated the building. In my mind I certainly didn't have any fear. I felt it was a hoax, but in this day and age you can't afford to take any chances. We had to do what we had to do, which was to evacuate the building.

"About 20 years, there was a series of bomb scares and it was school after school after school, and I am just concerned now that other schools will be getting them now. I have no idea why anyone would do this. We will just leave it to the Police to investigate.

"It's unfair on the kids, and the Police have better things to do with their time.

"I have to say the Police were magnificent and I give them an A plus for the way they handled the situation.

"The secretary felt the voice was not a teenager. It was a male voice and it was muffled and from a telephone booth."

Sister Judith said some students had preliminary test exams but no one was sitting proper examinations yesterday.

Teachers gathered at Washington Street North said there was confusion when they were told to quickly evacuate the building.

"We've never had to do this before. It is strange, also not knowing what is going on," said one teacher.

"We were just told evacuate as quickly as possible, as though it was a fire drill."

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said it was policy not to comment on bomb scares.

But he added: "In recent years it is getting worse. Last year saw a very large number of them around the courts and at Lindos."