French police evacuated the Catholic shrine of Lourdes following a telephoned bomb warning this afternoon.

Some 30,000 pilgrims had gathered at the shrine today to celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Bomb disposal experts were on the scene after the anonymous tip-off to police that four bombs would explode on the site at 3 pm.

No explosions took place and it is believed that the call was a hoax.

The pilgrims, who were attending services celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, were led to safety.

"Everything is taking place in an orderly manner," a police spokesman said.

The Lourdes shrine is in southwestern France, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a young shepherdess in the 19th century. Assumption day is one of the busiest days of the year for Lourdes.

Reuters