Children have been sent home from a village primary school following a hoax call.

An alarm was triggered at New Ash Green primary, in North Square, just before 11am and children were evacuated with people reporting sirens in the village.

Kent Police spokesman Sally Smith said: "Police were called to a school New Ash Green at 10.45am.

"Officers have attended following a suspected hoax call. The school has been evacuated as a precautionary measure."

Head teacher of New Ash Green Primary, Caroline Cain, said: “This morning school staff contacted parents and carers and asked them to collect their children from Milestone Academy, our nearest school.

“There has been a number of bomb scare hoaxes across the country.

"Unfortunately, the reason for the evacuation was because New Ash Green Primary received such a threat.

“Kent Police officers attended the school at 10.45am. I would like to stress this threat was a prank or hoax.

“The safety of our children is paramount and our primary concern. The children and staff were evacuated calmly and were safe at all times.

"I would like to thank our staff for their professionalism.

“I would urge anyone who may have any information relating to this incident to contact Kent Police at the earliest opportunity.”

In July 2016 the same school was evacuated following a similar call.

It was the latest in a series of scares across the county.