Swindon parents were left panicking after receiving calls from crying children as two of the town’s schools were evacuated.

Both Brimble Hill and Uplands School on Tadpole Lane in Blunsdon were evacuated on Wednesday after reports of chemical smells and people feeling unwell from the former.

LIVE UPDATES: Swindon schools evacuated after 'chemical smells'

Fire crews attended the schools throughout the day, after first being called just before 9am, to investigate the cause of the smell while three people have attended hospital with reported symptoms after being on site but their condition is not serious.

You can see Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's full statement here.

Abbey Park School and Red Oaks Primary School, both nearby, were locked down for the remainder of the day as a precaution following the fire service’s orders.

Swindon Advertiser: The scene at Uplands School on Wednesday afternoon.The scene at Uplands School on Wednesday afternoon. (Image: Newsquest)

Parents of the four schools were left panicked about Wednesday’s events and initially had limited communication with their children and the schools.

One mum says she first heard about the situation through her daughter at Abbey Park who called her in tears saying that they had all been locked in while other children could be heard crying in the background.

Rumours about the possible cause of the leak spread fast and the mums expressed frustration at the lack of information.

“Stop people speculating and just tell us what happened, that would be the right thing to do. We’ve heard all sorts of things, just tell us the truth and we won’t have to worry,” said one anonymous parent.

Swindon Advertiser: Brimble Hill School and Uplands School were evacuated on Wednesday.Brimble Hill School and Uplands School were evacuated on Wednesday. (Image: Public submission)

“Knowing we can pick them up at 3pm is brilliant, the schools have handled it fine, but their hands are probably tied with what they can tell us.”

Another parent added: “Apparently it started at 9am because there were fire engines in the area but we didn’t hear anything, dropped our kids off.

“They went into school and then we got a message at 1pm saying that due to unforeseen circumstances the children are being locked inside and we can’t collect them until further notice.

“It’s not a good start to the school year.”

Swindon Advertiser: Fire crews were dispatched after reports of a chemical smell.Fire crews were dispatched after reports of a chemical smell. (Image: Newsquest)

The parents later received an update from Abbey Park School saying the pupils could be collected at the normal time.

"Thank you for your patience," said a spokesperson for the school.

"We have been advised by the fire service that pupils are able to leave the site as normal at the end of the school day at 3.10pm and they should go straight home.

Traffic began to build on Tadpole Lane throughout the afternoon and police officers on site had to divert the queues of vehicles.