A group of boys have been excluded from a grammar school and made to do community service after a video was posted online of them abusing a squirrel.

The boys, who are thought to be aged 14 and 15, are shown dropping a brick on the body of the squirrel, which it's claimed was dead when they found it.

The video also shows them kicking the body before swinging it around and setting fire to it.

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The incident took place in a woodland area on Monday, September 12 and after the video emerged online, the group were hauled in front of their headteacher at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys in Dartford.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

VIDEO: Footage shows pupils abusing the squirrel. Credit: The Sun.

Headteacher Donna Lodge said: “A thoroughly unpleasant video clip, showing inappropriate behaviour by a group of boys towards a dead squirrel, was brought to our attention.

“The clip, which was uploaded on Instagram, met with an immediate response from the school. The culprits were identified and interviewed along with their parents.

"Fixed-term exclusions were applied, in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy, and the students have also been made to undertake community service.

“An assembly for the whole year group took place to emphasise expectations and to condemn the behaviour of this minority of students, who will now be closely monitored.”

Mrs Lodge added: "Contrary to the reporting of The Sun, there is no evidence whatsoever that the squirrel was alive. Every statement is clear that the dead squirrel was lying on the floor at the point of discovery by the boys.

"In complete contrast however, on the following day a pigeon which was lying on the floor stunned after flying into a window, was carried to the Head's office with the gentlest of care and placed in a box until it came round. The bird was successfully released an hour later."

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: "I don’t think we should judge the school on the basis of this incident. Wilmington Grammar for Boys is a well-led and successful school in our area and this distasteful act doesn’t change that.

"The school dealt with this very swiftly and they should be given credit for that."

A RSPCA spokesman said: “This footage is extremely disturbing and distressing to watch.

"We are looking into this matter we and urge anyone with first-hand information to contact the RSPCA 24-hour hotline on 0300 1234 999.

“It is unclear from the footage whether the squirrel is alive or dead during this attack - if it was, it would have suffered severely.

"The RSPCA works hard to try to encourage and promote compassion and kindness to animals through its education programs to children and schools across the country.”

A police spokesman said they had not received any reports of cruelty to a live animal in the Wilmington area.

She added: "Officers have been made aware of the video footage circulating on social media, and it is not clear whether the animal was deceased prior to this footage."

Anyone with any information regarding the content of the video should contact the RSPCA and anyone with information in relation to any offences which have taken place, can report this to police on 101.