A Sheerness school was evacuated this afternoon after a heavy construction machine became stuck in mud, sparking safety fears.

West Minster Primary School in St George's Avenue closed its nursery and reception classes at 11am after problems with a large drill attached to a crane.

The machine was being used as part of work on a £3 million extension to add a third class to the two classroom school near the nursery.

Work is expected to be completed by September.

The site was closed as a precaution and all pupils are said to be safe and well.

News of the evacuation came as the school issued a message to parents urging them to collect their children.

Both classes will be off tomorrow as the school is scheduled to be used as a polling station.

If the drill has not been removed by the end of today, another building on the site will be used for the polling station.