A mum has spoken of the terrifying moment her son called her claiming he was in agony after a burning slime substance had been thrown at him.

Jack Poore, 12, from Margate, was reportedly targeted while cycling along Westwood Road to St George's Foundation School on Thursday morning.

He wiped the substance from his neck and then cleaned his hand on the grass before calling his mum, Tara, saying it was burning him.

Mrs Poore, 37, said she panicked, thinking her son was potentially the victim of an acid attack.

She instructed him to go straight to the reception, which was only seconds away, for help.

Staff including the school nurse helped clean the green slimy substance off Jack's skin and provided him with an ice pack.

He was left with a "red blotchy mark" and says its still "tingles" three days on.

The mum-of-two has now thanked the school for staffs' quick thinking and is asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact police.

She said: "He phoned me in state, saying he was in agony.

"He was crying, saying that his neck was on fire.

"He said he'd got some green slime on his neck and it was burning.

"I was in a panic, just thinking the worst, so told him to go to the reception.

"When I got there, they'd washed it all off his neck but some was on his shirt.

"The school nurse advised me to take him home and keep an eye on him.

"He was very lucky. I dread to think what would have happened if it had got on his face or in his eye."

Jack, who has autism, has only just built up the confidence to ride to school with his friend.

He doesn't recall any exchanges with anyone on his route.

It is not known what the substance was but Mrs Poole thinks it could have been a cleaning agent, potentially mixed with toy slime.

She said: "Jack is a very quiet lad who keeps himself to himself.

"He only has a small group of friends. He has autism and so it takes him a long time to connect with people.

"He has a wicked sense of humour and loves making people laugh and seeing people happy.

"He can't understand why anyone would do something like this to him when he's done nothing to them."

The Year 8 pupil's bike still remains at the school following the incident.

She added: "He's too nervous. He's worried that it's going to happen again."

Police has confirmed officers are investigating the incident.

A spokesman said: “Kent Police received a report of an assault which occurred at about 8.20am on Thursday, September 27.

"The victim reported that he was riding along Westwood Road when a liquid was thrown at him. He did not need hospital treatment.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/057484/18.