WINDHAM - Though students and staff at both Windham Middle and Golden Brook Elementary schools had reported hearing a loud blast in the nearby woods Tuesday morning, it turned out there was no reason for alarm, school officials said.

Police arrived to investigate the area between the two schools shortly after 11 a.m., but after an extensive search of the area, nothing suspicious was found, Superintendent Henry LaBranche said.

"We never went on lockdown and the police gave us the clear within 20 minutes," he added.

This was the fourth time in the past several weeks that students and staff have been scared in the Windham district. Several days after the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Windham High School was placed on a brief lockdown after someone reportedly heard "a loud bang."

Several days later, a school board member received news of a threat received over the Internet.

On Jan. 2, the middle school was locked down briefly after a resident reportedly heard gunshots coming from nearby. In all three instances, nothing was found.