Schoolchildren in Whitstable gave a group of German students on a twin town exchange a Nazi salute when they visited their school, the Gazette exclusively revealed on Thursday.

The behaviour from some of the pupils left their guests stunned and appalled said Sally Krause who, with her German-born husband Dierk, had been hosting one of the visitors.

She said: "While I find it appalling that such behaviour was displayed I am more appalled that no teacher disciplined the students immediately or apologised to the German students and their teachers.

"My husband is German and was equally offended by the behaviour but also ashamed that guests in this country could be treated in this way."

Mum-of-one Mrs Krause, of Victoria Street, Whitstable, said their German visitor from Borken told her husband what had happened and said they had been shocked by the Nazi greeting.

"We feel that due to my husband being German the student staying with us felt more able to express his feelings as it appeared from talking to other hosts they were unaware of the incident," Mrs Krause said.

"I can understand the students involved may have intended it as a joke but such behaviour is not acceptable and gives a poor impression of the Community College and its students."

Mrs Krause wrote to the Community College, Whitstable, about the incident several weeks ago but has never received a reply to her letter.

Richard Martindale, from the Community College, said: "The college can confirm that during a recent school visit it was reported that a few students had acted inappropriately.

"This was extremely unfortunate but immediately addressed by the head teacher during a mini school assembly.

"The college is very proud of the strong international links it has developed over recent years and takes any incident that may cause offence seriously."