Special needs pupils at a primary school were caught up in the chaos as a bomb hoax brought major disruption to Armagh city for the second time in a week.

An area around the Mall and courthouse was sealed off yesterday after the discovery of a suspicious object, which police later described as an elaborate hoax.

The alert was raised on Sunday night and continued until 11am yesterday, causing misery for motorists, residents and school children.

Those affected included pupils at The Armstrong Primary School which had to close for the day. The school has 372 pupils, including 20 with special needs.

Its principal David Dickson said the alert had caused major disruption to the school day.

“There was considerable disruption although we did, in conjunction with the police, manage the situation well because only one child and their mother arrived this morning,” he said.

Mr Dickson closed the school around 8.45am leaving the pupils, who are too young to remember the Troubles, with an unexpected day off.

“I would imagine there are mixed emotions,” he added. “They were on their way to school and, while we would like to think that some were disappointed, no doubt others are pleased to have a day off.

“It is a new experience because the children would not have experienced a situation like this before. The school was badly damaged by a bomb in 1993 and that would have been the last serious incident.”

Staff and pupils at Royal School Armagh were able to access the school from a back entry, while students at Armagh College were also caught up in the disruption.

They included Lauren Henry, Judith Henry and Jennifer Stoops, and their friends Emma Alderdice and Charlotte Wilson, from the Newtownhamilton and Markethill areas.

“We got diverted on our way in and were unable to get to some of our classes,” said Jennifer. “It was quite scary because we didn’t know if there was a bomb.”

The mayor of Armagh city, Thomas O'Hanlon, said: “Those responsible for this activity have no respect whatsoever for local residents, children trying to get to school, people travelling through the city or for local businesses and traders,” he said.

Ulster Unionist MLA for Newry and Armagh Danny Kennedy said the hoax was “a worrying sign of the times”.

“Given the symbolism attached to the memorial (cenotaph), the location of this device is disgusting,” he said.