More than 80 pupils and staff have been vaccinated against measles after four boys fell ill with the virus.

Three Year 9 boarders at Cranbrook School and an 18-year-old Australian on a gap year contracted the virus last week, but are now recovering.

One of the boys was sent home and his parents took him to his local hospital in London, but is now recovering at home, while the other three affected were treated at the school’s medical centre.

As a result, more than 80 students and staff took part in a mass immunisation by the Kent Health Protection Unit last week.

Head teacher Angela Daly said: “A lot of our students and staff have taken up the offer of immunisation and we are hoping that there will be no other outbreaks.

“Parents really do need to get their children vaccinated.”

The school was also hit by an outbreak of Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) associated with MRSA, in 2007. A girl’s boarding house had to be closed after three pupils were struck down with the infection.