A number of Maidstone schools were put on lockdown, after a threat was made.

Tiger Primary, New Line Learning Academy (NLL) and Five Acre Wood, were all closed to visitors on police advice this afternoon while officers investigated a malicious communication directed towards a nearby nursery at the the Boughton Lane site.

The report was received at 1.30pm and a number of squad cars sent to the complex, where more than 1,100 students are based across different schools.

Officers visited the nursery at the centre of the threat and as a precaution provided advice to other nurseries in the area. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.

A spokesman for Maidstone Day Nursery and Pre-School, in Boughton Lane, said: "We were made aware by police that there was an incident in the Maidstone area.

"The children were safe in the nursery at all times. Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of all our children, colleagues and nursery families.”

At Five Acre Wood School, which caters for children with learning difficulties, staff and students were instructed to stay inside the building and not leave until they were told it was safe to do so.

Principal Peggy Murphy said: "We were advised by the police to close the school to external visitors.

"The safety of pupils is at the heart of what we do and so we followed these procedures."

A spokesman for Future Schools Trust, which runs Tiger and NLL said: “Officers from Kent Police attended our site in Boughton Lane this afternoon in connection with an incident that was not linked to any of our schools.

“Following advice from Kent Police, we closed our buildings to external visitors, which is standard protocol for incidents such as this.

“The officers have now left and our schools are open as usual.”

Were your children affected? Get in touch on 01622 695666 or email messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk