Pupils were evacuated from primary schools across Scotland after "bomb threats" were made by phone.

Police and fire crews were called in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Dumfries and the Lothians on Tuesday morning after phone calls were made to several schools.

Police Scotland confirmed 13 primary and secondary schools were targeted by "malicious hoax threats" but that they did not seem to be "terrorist related".

Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson said: "Police Scotland is investigating a series of malicious hoax threats made to 13 primary and secondary schools across the country today.

"There is no information to suggest these threats were terrorist related. Police Scotland is working with other forces to investigate who is responsible and whether the incidents are linked to others in the UK.

"We take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public.

"Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on the 101. In an emergency always call 999."

Mr Johnson also said earlier that the threats did not "appear to be credible".

South Lanarkshire Council confirmed Carluke Primary pupils had been moved to nearby Highmill Primary and youngsters at Canberra Primary in East Kilbride were evacuated and moved to Mossneuk Primary.

Dunrobin Primary in Airdrie was also evacuated, with pupils allowed back into the building after around an hour at 10.30am, as was Doonfoot Primary in Ayr and Dumfries High School.

The scare came amid a wave of "bomb threats" made to schools across the UK on Tuesday. A number of states in America, including New York and New Hampshire, also had schools targeted.

Douglas Hutchison, South Ayrshire Council's director of educational services, said: "Doonfoot Primary was one of a number of schools in Scotland to receive a threat via the telephone today.

"While there was no suggestion that this was a credible threat, the school was evacuated as a precaution and the children were taken to Greenan Shore where they were looked after by teachers and school staff.

"Colleagues from the emergency services completed a search of the school building and, as soon as it was declared safe, the children and staff returned to school."

A school in Edinburgh, Dunbar Grammar School in East Lothian and another in West Lothian were also affected.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: "Dunbar Grammar School was one of a number of UK schools which received a telephone threat.

"The school followed safety procedures and the building went into lockdown as a precaution, and was then reopened following a thorough search."

West Lothian Council spokesman said: "In common with a number of schools across the UK, a West Lothian school received a threatening phone call this morning .

"In consultation with Police Scotland, the school followed their emergency plan to calmly evacuate the school as a precaution.

"Pupils returned to the school a short time later after police had checked the school and declared it safe."

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: "The school was evacuated earlier today but pupils were allowed back in following advice from Police Scotland who are investigating."

Perth High School received a hoax threat on Tuesday morning but the school was not evacuated.

It is understood the threats were made by an automated recording over the phone.

Staff received a telephone call claiming there was an explosive device within the building.

Emergency services set up cordons at the schools involved to ensure the safety of the public while searches were under way.