There has been an increase in the number of children caught with offensive weapons in Kent's schools.

Figures given to KentOnline show there were eight reports of crimes involving under 18s with offensive weapons at primaries and secondaries in the county last year - up from just three in 2011.

In total, over the past five years, there have been 19 occasions where children have been reported to police for possessing something like a knife or knuckleduster.

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The union representing teachers in the county say the statistics are worrying and more needs to be done to protect staff.

Christine Dickinson, of the Kent branch of the NUT, said: "Any rise in violence in society is a terrible thing... we've already lost a teacher in Yorkshire to this kind of violence.

"What is making the child so angry and desperate that they will consider bringing in and using a weapon in school?

"It could be to do with their home life, they may be living in poverty or having to care for someone, or it could be their life at school."

Last March a 16-year-old pupil at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells armed himself with a mallet and serrated knife before lashing out at two boys.

A court was told the student had been bullied and let down by doctors after being referred with special needs. He was given a 12-month referral order.

In 2013 an eight-year-old boy was temporarily excluded from Christ Church Primary Academy in Folkestone after taking a table knife into school following a row with another child.

The weapon was confiscated after being discovered in his bag.

Earlier this year a Maidstone secondary school pupil appeared in court after taking a bladed ring, known as tactical claw knife, into class because he feared a gang was going to attack him.

The 14-year-old was given a three-month referral order and told to pay £15. The weapon was also destroyed.

Kent Police said that while the number of incidents is small, it is working with schools to prevent potentially serious incidents.

Superintendent Simon Thompson said: "The number of offensive weapons reports from educational establishments is low compared to the number of establishments and pupils across Kent.

"However, one report is too many and Kent Police works closely with both schools and pupils to provide information and advice around the risk of carrying weapons, whether that be taking an item into educational environment or just generally carrying items in the public.

"It is both dangerous and illegal and puts others, as well as those who carry such weapons, at risk of potentially serious injuries."