A 27-year-old pregnant woman required a hospital check-up after being kicked in the stomach during a brawl near school gates.

An argument between three women spilled over into violence as children as young as five arrived for lessons at Diocesan and Payne Smith school at Canterbury.

The pregnant mother is one of two women, the other is aged 22, who claim to have been assaulted by a third woman near the school gates in Broad Street, and suffered slight injuries.

Police said they are waiting to speak to the alleged offender who also aged 27.

Parents and children arriving at the school just before 9am last Wednesday were shocked to see the women shouting and grappling in the street before being split up by teaching staff.

The argument is believed to have centred on jealousy over a man. Police were alerted to the incident shortly afterwards.

Head teacher Carole Wakeling said she had spoken to the women involved and warned all parents that a consequence of any similar incident would involve the police.

She said: “It is important that we develop between the school, parents and children respect and care for each other’s safety in school and on the approaches to school.

“It is not just the children directly involved who are affected, but the children who witness it and the parents who come to school around it. If children are scared about their parents’ safety, they won’t learn.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe and with that right comes responsibility, not only for our own personal behaviour but that of friends, colleagues and acquaintances."

She added: "We are not looking to apportion blame. I don’t know who is guilty. We are trying to establish what we all expect and what responsibiltiies we have. We won’t tolerate this behaviour."