PUPILS have been told to ride bikes home with older children and “remain alert” after a spate of bike thefts by thugs wielding knives.
Headteachers across Southend are urging pupils to take care when leaving the school grounds following the attacks on pupils at secondary schools.
Southend has seen a series of bike thefts in recent weeks and months, some of which have involved a knife.
More teachers will be standing outside school gates as a result, with children on bikes told to ride on main roads and “be ready” to ride away from large groups of strangers.
This comes as two Year 7 seven children from Southend High School for Boys were left “visibly shaken” as they had their bikes stolen on Thursday.