Police apologise for 'nee-nah or woo-woo' school siren debate Published duration 25 September 2015

image copyright Haydonleigh Primary School, Swindon image caption Becky Muckleston, from the school, said staff consensus was "it's a woo-woo", but pupils thought it was a "nee-nah"

Police who set off sirens to settle a debate over whether they go "nee-nah or woo-woo" have apologised to residents.

The sirens were sounded during a visit by police community support officers (PCSOs) to Haydonleigh Primary School in Swindon.

Becky Muckleston, from the school, said staff consensus was "it's a woo-woo" but pupils thought it was a "nee-nah".

PCSOs admitted they sounded the sirens "quite a bit" and apologised to anyone in the area for the disturbance.

The debate arose during a "People Who Help Us" session with three classes from the school's reception year.

According to PCSO Emma Harryman, it was during a tour of her police fleet car that the children began debating "nee-nah or woo-woo".

"That's why we ended up setting off the sirens quite a bit," she admitted.

'Official vote'

According to the PCSO, the school's headmistress had "officially put it out there" that it was actually a wah-wah.

But following a vote at the school earlier, it was announced that "woo-woo" was the winner by 60 votes to 28.

image copyright Haydonleigh Primary School image caption Following a vote at the school earlier, it was announced that "woo-woo" was the overall winner

Ms Muckleston, said the result was surprising as the children had been "leaning more towards the nee-nah".

"Nee-nah is a bit of a classic but when it came to it they decided woo-woo was the way to go," she said.

"I would say it's probably a surprise - although I think it's more of a wah-wah myself."