ByBarry O'Connor

BBC News NI

The Education Minister Paul Givan said an email threatening that "an explosive device" is located within 160 schools in Northern Ireland was not being treated as a "viable threat".

Givan said that the email has "caused huge alarm" and condemned the "level of disruption caused to young people's education".

Some schools have closed after receiving the email, however others have decided to stay open and are taking advice from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Givan added that he is "hugely disappointed" that some schools have had to close.

One school in Lambeg emailed parents to say that they should "come immediately" and collect children ading: "Please don't panic the children are all safe."

Givan said his department is working with the PSNI.

The PSNI said it received reports regarding "an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland".

"As a result of this email, police are conducting urgent enquiries, and liaising with the schools in question. An update will be provided in due course."

Claire Robinson, who is the head teacher at Holy Evangelists' Primary School in west Belfast, told BBC Radio Ulster's the Nolan Show that the advice schools have been given is "practically non-existent".

"There's been nothing from the Education Authority, there's been nothing from CCMS [Council for Catholic Maintained Schools], bar two letters that are more or less telling us absolutely nothing," she said.

Robinson said she feels that principals have been left to make the decisions themselves.

"We need guidance in the event these things happen.

"It's wholly unacceptable when we're dealing with children".

Meanwhile, the principal for Rathcoole Primary School in Newtownabbey, Emma Quinn, said that although her school is having a staff training day, it had gone into a lockdown procedure.

However, she said there has been "very little guidance, if no guidance, from the Education Authority".

"It's left to principals to make a very vital decision about the safety of their pupils and staff."

Quinn added that there has been conflicting advice provided to school principals.

The Education Authority (EA) has been contacted in regards to the critical comments made by Quinn and Robinson.

On the actual email itself, the EA said it was "aware" of it adding: "We recognise the concern this may cause for school leaders, staff, pupils and families.

"We are engaging closely with the PSNI and will act on their advice.

"Communications have been issued to schools, and we continue to support school leaders and keep them informed."