PARENTS were left in a panic on Thursday after Dallam Primary issued a warning message that a man had been detained and a weapon seized near to the school.

Police were called to reports of a man seen walking up Chiltern Road at 2.30pm carrying a machete.

Pensioner Oswald Beckford, aged 73, of McKee Avenue, was later arrested and has since been charged on suspicion of possessing a knife in a public place. 

He was bailed and will appear at North Cheshire Magistrates Court on October 8.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "The nearby school was visited by police to offer reassurance. At no point were any of the children at the school at risk.”

But the text message issued by the school on Boulting Avenue sent some parents into a frenzy due to the lack of information provided.

The message read: "I have spoken to some concerned parents this pm. Police confirmed a man has been detained and a weapon seized."

Head teacher Louise Atkin said she was acting in the best interests of the pupils but is aware that the message might have caused some parents to worry.

The text was sent out following calls from concerned parents who had heard about an incident in the community.

She said: “I do apologise if the text had caused any concern and upset as this was not our intention. 

“In hindsight, the text could have been worded differently but my priority at that time was to safeguard children and provide information and reassure anxious parents. 

"I was acting in the best interests of the children all of whom I care passionately about.”