The penultimate week of summer term at a Kent primary school was interrupted by a bomb scare.

An email warning of an explosive device being placed at New Ash Green Primary School in Longfield saw police called at 10.27am on Friday, with pupils and staff evacuated as a precaution.

Police officers searched the site and nothing suspicious was found, with the threat therefore deemed to be a hoax.

Parents were initially told that the evacuation was due to a water supply issue when they were instructed to pick up their children from nearby Milestone Academy.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Caroline Cain explained that “it was judged to cause less alarm among the pupils and the community”.

She continued: “I would like to stress once more that this threat was a prank or hoax.

“However, I am sure you will be mindful to discuss the incident sensitively with your children so as to ensure no undue alarm is caused for our children.

“The school will be open for business as usual on Monday. Thank you for your support in this matter.”

It's the latest in an increasingly long line of bomb threats at schools across the county.

Thanet’s Minster Primary School was evacuated on July 1 after a threatening phone call was made, and there were multiple incidents in May.

Bower Grove School in Maidstone and Dame Janet Primary Academy School in Ramsgate were both evacuated over bomb threats on May 27, and another two schools were cleared on May 23.

A menacing caller rang Canterbury Academy to say there was a bomb on site and “the shrapnel will take children’s heads off”, and soon after that 400 pupils were forced to vacate Barming Primay School in Maidstone.

Anyone with information about Friday's incident is asked to phone Kent Police on 01622 604100 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference 15-406.