A DANGEROUS new TikTok craze among high school pupils in Inverclyde is putting lives at risk as fire alarms are deliberately and repeatedly set off.

The problem came to light when it was revealed that so-called pranksters at Notre Dame High were setting off the alarms and forcing a full evacuation of the building almost every day of the week

But the Tele understands that it is also a problem in other secondary schools in the area, with senior teachers on high alert.

The hoax alarms have been been sparked by an irresponsible social media 'trend' which encouraged youngsters to post videos of the chaos world wide.

Now fire chiefs have stepped in to warn that the malicious calls could stop them attending genuine emergencies.

They are now working with education bosses and the police to crackdown on the dangerous practice.

One fed up Notre Dame High mum said: "I am absolutely sick of it.

"My daughter is studying for exams and she is forced to leave class because a fire alarm is going off.

"It keeps happening, again and again.

"The pupils are all sent out when it happens, sometimes at lunch time, standing there in the cold without jackets if they don't have time to get them.

"They need to take action against those who are responsible.

"It started before Christmas and it has been happening every day since."

There are a number of 'fire alarm at school' pages on popular social media platform TikTok, which has a massive following among young people.

Pupils are encouraging one another to upload videos of the fire alarm buttons ringing.

Another source said: "It is happening in other schools.

"Teachers have even been forced to stand in front of the fire alarms to stop it.

"They know who is responsible, but it is trying to catch them."

Recent data from the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service suggests that every call-out costs an estimated £2,000 in Inverclyde, with high schools largely responsible for false alarms along with hospitals.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately a number of fire alarms have been set off recently, which is disappointing and frustrating for staff and pupils.

“The school is working with partner agencies, including the police and fire service, to investigate and take appropriate action.

“Deliberately and maliciously setting off a fire alarm is a criminal offence and is completely unacceptable.”

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service local senior officer David McCarrey said: “There has been a rise in unwanted fire alarm signals incidents within specific secondary school premises in Inverclyde with what appears to be malicious activations of manual call points by some pupils.

"SFRS is working closely with Inverclyde Council, Police Scotland and the schools involved to address the issue.

"My message to those involved is to consider the impact on the emergency responders, understand that these resources may be required for real emergencies elsewhere and to refrain from this dangerous practice."