A head teacher has moved to reassure parents after four children contracted hand foot and mouth disease.

Letters have been sent out to parents of pupils at Richmond Primary School in Sheerness after four reception age children contracted the illness.

It is not the same as foot and mouth disease in animals.

Hand foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus called coxsackle and fever is a common symptom with ulcers in the mouth and a red raised rash on the hands and feet, which develops into small blisters.

No treatment is needed for it and blisters tend to clear within four to six days in the mouth and within 10 days on the body.

Advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is that infected children should stay away from school until they no longer have a fever and they feel well.

The presence of a rash does not mean the child is contagious.

Head teacher at the Nursery Close school Marian Smith said: "It is a very mild disease and we have our information from the HPA.

"We have taken precautions in the school, parents have been informed and we have increased hygiene in the two classes affected."