THREE pupils from the Abbey School at Faversham who kicked a sick rabbit to death are not to face prosecution.

The police and the RSPCA interviewed the boys in the presence of their parents and had considered legal action but decided not to go ahead because there was no body.

Head teacher Peter Walker said the appropriate authorities had dealt with the boys and the matter was now closed.

He stressed he was grateful for the reaction of the boys' parents and the student body had been horrified by the pupils' actions. "There was a lot of anger," he said.

The case reached the attention of the Animal Rights Society who had sent him a video and information leaflets that he will be using in school.

"I'm giving the video and other materials to our citizenship co-ordinator so they can use that in our programme," he added.