Wellingborough leisure centre lockdown after knife alert

Officers were alerted to the boy who was seen in Weavers Road, outside nearby Weavers Academy.

A Facebook alert was posted at 6.10pm on Saturday (November 23), which said: "Weavers Leisure Centre on locked down with kids basketball teams inside due to a knife incident at the centre.

"Police have been called."

A spokeman for Northamptonshire Police confirmed that they had responded to the call at 5.50pm on Saturday in Weavers Road, Wellingborough.

She said: "He was described as a black boy wearing black trousers, a black hoodie and a grey puffer jacket.

"By the time officers arrived he had gone."

Anyone with any information about the incident have been encouraged to call the police on 101.

Northamptonshire Titans Basketball Club director of basketball operations Pete Burgoine said: “Following Saturday's incident, firstly and most importantly, we are pleased to say that everyone is safe.

"We recognise that unfortunately knife crime is on the increase everywhere in society, and no one is immune from it impacting on their lives.

"However shocking the incident was, it is reassuring that the emergency procedures in place at the centre worked, and the incident was defused and resolved promptly.

"We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to the staff at Weavers and the police for their prompt action.

“We are working with Weavers staff, the local police and others to ensure the impact on the clubs operations are minimal, and that the club and its visitors are as safe as possibly can be.

"We are also working to support the club members affected, and are developing a program to provide awareness, education and training.”