A shocked drama teacher says he was just moments away from being caught up in the devastating Barcelona terror attack.

Richard Gregg, from the Phoenix Quarter estate in Dartford, is staying in the city with his boyfriend just yards from the Las Ramblas street where up to 13 people are feared dead after a van crashed into a crowd of people.

The 46-year-old, who has been told to stay in his apartment by police, was heading back to his hotel when the attack happened.

Mr Gregg told KentOnline: “We were coming back to our apartment and as we got close an American tourist was running and saying there was blood everywhere.

“People didn’t really know what was going on and the crowds were running in all sorts of directions.

“If it had happened two minutes later, we would have been standing where the van has stopped as that is at the junction to our road.”

A Catalan government official has reportedly confirmed 12 people have been killed, with reports of up to 80 injured, 10 of them seriously.

Mr Gregg, who teaches drama at a school in London, added: "The police were flooding the side roads on motorbikes looking for someone and it was very chaotic to begin with but they acted very quickly.

"The Las Ramblas street is a bit like the opposite to Oxford Street in London - there are cars going down the sides but pedestrians and stalls in the middle.

"Thousands of people use the stretch for shopping and grabbing something to eat - it is a relaxed area and it was packed this morning when we left our apartment."

Catalan police say one suspect has been arrested.

A spokesman from children's charity the NSPCC said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and families of those who have been affected by the atrocious terror attack in Barcelona.

"Many children and teenagers will feel frightened or sad in light of this news and we would urge them to talk to a trusted adult, be it a parent, teacher or Childline."