Schools in the county have been advised they may have to be carers for children stranded because parents are stuck in traffic caused by Brexit.

Education chiefs have issued new guidance on what schools should do in the event that pupils can not get home.

The schools have been warned they may have to consider looking after “stranded” children if parents are caught in gridlock.

The note advises: "During periods of staff shortage due to an emergency, before headteachers decide to close, they should consider two alternative courses of action. First, consider suspending normal teaching and instead adopt a 'carer' role with classes being supervised."

Alternatively, schools are advised to merge year groups if there are not enough teachers on the premises to manage them separately.

Kent County Council says that to combine year groups is preferable to closing a school, advising headteachers they will have to consider the impact of forcing parents to leave work.

“At this stage we cannot easily predict the eventual impact of the UK exiting the European Union, but it would be remiss to assume no impact..."

Another part of the note suggests: “There might be shortages of food, fuel or services, due to the ability of providers to deliver them” adding schools should consider “the impact of both the above on the ability of students/pupils, staff and contractors to attend school.”

The new guidance comes after we revealed KCC had told schools they may have to go into "lockdown" in certain situations - including the prospect of children being exposed to air pollution.

In a statement, the county council said it was sensible to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

It said: “As a local authority, we have a duty to the families of Kent to ensure schools and other education settings do all they can to ensure continuity of provision, even in times of emergency or when circumstances change to an extent that the ability to maintain ‘normal’ provision is greatly reduced.”

“At this stage we cannot easily predict the eventual impact of the UK exiting the European Union, but it would be remiss to assume no impact.

"Kent already has a strong track record in Emergency Planning and within the Children, Young People and Education directorate, specific guidance is already issued to all schools on an annual basis, so they may be prepared for any incident or situation that may negatively impact on their operation. We see the forewarning of potential issues arising from Brexit purely as an extension of this service.”

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