Pupils at a Maidstone school have returned from their summer holidays to discover their classroom pet is mysteriously pregnant.

The hunt was on for the father but it turned out Barbie-Ken the giant African land snail had managed to make itself pregnant.

The three-year-old has now given birth to 81 eggs, which have been placed in an incubator next to its tank at New Line Learning Academy, Loose.

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While snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they have male and female genitalia, it is rare for them to impregnate themselves.

Year 7 and 8 children at the Boughton Lane school comforted the mollusc while it went through contractions, which lasted several days, by stroking its shell and playing classical music.

Teacher Maria Cunningham said: “We couldn’t believe what was happening. We called the RSPCA and they said they can reproduce by themselves but that it is really rare.

“The students were really kind and acted as birthing partners while Barbie-Ken was laying the eggs. We had classical music playing and the students were rubbing its shell.

Video: The snail that made itself pregnant

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the new arrivals.”

The final egg was produced on Tuesday and pupils are now eagerly awaiting the first arrival. Eggs can take anything between several days and six weeks to hatch, with 90% of babies likely to survive.

While it is early stages the naming process has already begun, with Angel and Precious proving popular.

A RSPCA spokesman said: "Giant African land snails are very hardy and they can be kept at a temperature around 21-23 degrees, feeding on a range of different vegetables. They are common as pets in the UK.

"However, they do require calcium supplements and a controlled environment that is humid but not soaking. Their enclosure must be regularly checked to remove food items before they go mouldy and to check for eggs because these snails lay many eggs over an extended period of time.

"It is an offence to release a non-native species into the wild under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and these snails have already become an established invasive species in many countries such as the USA."

"They are hermaphrodites, meaning that even a lone adult can breed. Therefore, any eggs need to be removed and frozen to stop them developing before they can be disposed of. "