GETTY A school has pulled out of a trip to Belgium amid fears of a terrorist attack

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Staff at a primary school were bombarded with calls from worried parents about a planned trip to First World War sites in the country. Belgium, which was thrust into the international spotlight after the Paris terrorist attacks, is currently on a high terror alert after it was revealed several of the jihadis came of the Brussels district Molenbeek. Balbardie Primary school in Bathgate, West Lothian, cancelled the proposed excursion to Tyne Cot War Cemetery and Passchendaele Museum in Zonnebeke, west Flanders.

The war graves are nearly 100 miles away from the Belgian capital where the majority of anti-terror raids have taken place since 130 people were killed in Paris on November 13. The Scottish school also planned to visit a German war cemetery, the Bayernwald trenches and the Menin Gate in Ypres, a historical town in western Belgium. The trip would have coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in which more than one million soldiers were wounded or killed.

GETTY Belgium is on a high terror alert

There is a high threat from terrorism UK Foreign Office

Current guidance from the UK government describes the terrorism threat in Belgium as "high" and asks tourists to be vigilant. A West Lothian council spokeswoman said the decision to cancel the trip was based on the wishes of parents and did not reflect official policy. She said: "The shocking events in Paris and the terrorist threat in Belgium resulted in a climate of uncertainty for schools, parents and pupils when considering any trip to this area. "Following numerous phone calls from concerned parents, Balbardie Primary School, in Bathgate, wrote to parents to ask their views.”

GETTY Tyne Cot War Cemetery in Zonnebeke

Students from two nearby schools - Whitburn Academy and Broxburn Academy - will be visiting Belgium in May and June. Tommy Davidson, of the Ancre Somme Association Scotland, said his group was "saddened" at news that pupils would not be taking part. He said: "[We are] saddened that Scotland's children will miss the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. "Thousands of Scots were slaughtered on July 1, 1916. It's important in today's world children and adults learn the reality of war. "Books, stories and videos don't have the same impact as a life experience visit to the trenches, war graves, cemeteries and memorials dedicated to the fallen."

UK government advice on travelling to Belgium says Brussels is most at threat of terrorism due to the presence of international institutions such as the European Union (EU) and NATO, as well as many foreign embassy buildings. The Foreign Office also said there was a threat on public transport and tourist sites frequented by foreign holidaymakers. Brussels was placed on lockdown for four days after the Paris attacks due to fears of a similar atrocity being committed in the Belgian capital. Salah Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national, is still on the run after the Paris attacks. The Foreign Office said: "There is a high threat from terrorism. "There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. "You should be vigilant at this time."