Schools in Kent are being advised by county education chiefs to postpone trips to France in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.

The education authority has told schools they should put on hold previously arranged trips for the immediate future amid concerns about the continuing terrorist threat.

KCC said other visits involving travelling through France to reach other destinations should also be delayed.

In a statement, the authority said: "Kent County Council is encouraging all its schools to postpone or re-schedule educational trips to France for the immediate future.

"Following advice from the French authorities, who have asked 'foreign' schools not to travel to France at this time, KCC is asking its schools to contact their travel providers and operators."

Cllr Roger Gough, KCC cabinet member for education, said: "We are asking Kent schools to postpone any visits to France, or that involve travelling through France on motorway or train networks, up to the Christmas break."

He added: "We obviously feel great sympathy for the victims of the events last Friday and their families, and are keen to continue the close liaison between our schools and our nearest continental neighbours.

"KCC greatly values the educational benefits to pupils from visits to France and other countries, and this temporary travel advice affects only a very small number of schools in the run up to the Christmas break.

"KCC is providing help and support to these schools in re-scheduling educational experiences and facilitating communications with travel providers."

Homewood School in Tenterden has already cancelled one trip to Germany and is considering whether to put off a further trip to Lille in December.

A notice on its website said: "Following advice today from the Foreign Office and Kent County Council, it is with regret that we are cancelling the trip to Cologne on Friday 27th November.

"All monies will be returned to parents. We are currently reviewing the viability of the trip to Lille in December."

Another school, Folkestone School for Girls, cut short a trip to Paris after the attacks.

A group of Year 10, 11 and 12 students had arrived in Paris on Friday for a weekend-long visit but returned home on Saturday after the devastating attacks.

The Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey also cancelled a planned trip to Belgium.

Medway council said it was following the advice given by the French ministry of education, which said schools should not travel to the country because of the security situation.

However, a spokesman said it was not aware of any trips planned for its schools.