Pupils at a Kent school have been taking part in drills to prepare for armed intruders, chemical attacks and dangerous animals.

St Anselm's head teacher Mike Walters has confirmed the Canterbury secondary held the exercises for the first time today.

Alongside the usual fire drills, pupils practised barricading doors and hiding under desks.

Mr Walters stresses it was “absolutely not” the case they were introduced due to any threats and that St Anselm's is one of a number of schools in the area to have carried out the sessions.

In an email sent out to parents informing them of the exercises, he stated: “We are required to run a lockdown drill in very much the same way as we run a fire drill.

"Lockdown procedures should be seen as a sensible and proportionate response to any external or internal incident which has the potential to pose a threat to the safety of staff and pupils in the school.

“Procedures should aim to minimise disruption to the learning environment while ensuring the safety of all pupils and staff. Lockdown procedures may be activated in response to any number of situations.

“Please don’t be alarmed if at some point this week your child comes home and states they have been involved in a lockdown drill. This is a normal school procedure and we hope we never have to use the procedure for real.

“However, it is imperative we practise this to ensure all parties are aware of the exact procedure should we ever need to enact this.”

The message described the circumstances in which a lockdown may need to be used.

These include if an armed intruder enters the school, "a chemical, biological or radiological contamination", a major fire or a “dangerous dog or other animal roaming loose”.

But one mum told KentOnline the email left her “extremely alarmed” and concerned for her daughter’s wellbeing.

County council officials say the authority does require schools to have plans in place for a wide range of emergency situations, but that such drills are not mandatory.

Mr Walters, who also chairs the Kent Association of Head Teachers, believes these events are unlikely to ever happen and is encouraging parents not to worry.

“Lockdown drills are a routine part of every school’s practice and of their established risk assessment processes," he added.

“They are part of our commitment to keeping our children safe.”