A girl has been taken to hospital after having an “unknown substance” thrown at her at school.

Police, paramedics and fire crews were called to The Orchard School, which caters for SEN children, in Cambridge Road, Canterbury earlier today.

The youngster was taken to hospital as a precaution and a teenage boy is now being spoken to by officers regarding the incident.

A parent told KentOnline the school told them and other caregivers to collect their children.

The mum, who did not wish to be named, added: “The whole school has been asked to pick up their kids by a text, but the school won’t tell us anything about what happened.

“Fire engines, police and the ambulance were there.

“There was someone in a white hazmat suit, and liquid was thrown over someone. It’s a major incident.”

But a police spokesman confirmed initial inquiries found the substance was “not corrosive”.

They said: “Kent Police was called shortly before midday to a report of an assault at Orchard School in Canterbury, during which a girl had an unknown substance thrown at her.

“Initial inquiries have established it is not a corrosive substance, but the girl has been taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

“Police remain at the scene and are speaking with a teenage boy in connection with the incident.”

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service added: “We were called shortly before 11am this morning to reports of an unknown substance thrown at a female at the Orchard School in Canterbury.

“Crews assessed and treated the patient at the scene before taking them to a local hospital for further medical care.”

The Orchard School is a Foundation Special School catering for 104 pupils aged 4-18 with behaviour and learning difficulties.