AN ENTIRE school was held under siege when a mob of about 60 pupils from rival schools descended on the gates.

The threatening group, some armed with baseball bats, laid in wait outside St John Fisher Roman Catholic School in Ordnance Street, Chatham.

When head teacher Jenny Morris realised what was going on, she stopped pupils from leaving and staff ushered them into the school hall.

Police were called and it was more than an hour before pupils and staff were allowed to leave, under a heavy police presence.

The astonishing incident happened on Friday at about 3.40pm, just as St John Fisher pupils were about to leave. The mob, none in uniform, are thought to have come from several different schools in Medway.

One St John Fisher pupil, who didn't want to be named, said: "All the curtains were drawn in the school hall and we were told not to make any noise. The teachers said there was a big group of boys waiting outside, armed with baseball bats and planks of wood.

"Some of the girls were a bit scared and we were all whispering to each other."

When police arrived, the gang ran off in different directions, many towards Chatham Railway Station. One father, with two pupils at the school, said: "When they eventually got home they told me there was trouble with some pupils from other schools a few weeks ago. It seems to be an ongoing vendetta between rival pupils.

"I think Mrs Morris did the right thing by keeping the pupils inside. She was obviously trying protect them."

Another parent, who did not want to be named, collected her daughter after hearing about the incident. She said: "I think even the teachers were scared of the mob. I don't think anyone really knew how to handle the situation."

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "Our officers, along with some British Transport Police officers, were sent to the school at about 3.45pm. Upon arrival, the gang made off in several directions.

"It would be fair to say we have identified some of the culprits, but we have made no arrests at this time."

A Medway council spokesman said: "We understand there has been an incident outside St John Fisher School in Chatham.

The police and our own community safety team dealt with it, dispersing any crowd, and enabled the pupils to go home for the weekend."