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More Park Catholic Primary School, in Lucks Hill, West Malling, evacuated following severe flooding

A primary school in West Malling was evacuated this morning after half a foot of water flooded the building.

More Park Catholic Primary School has had to close its doors until at least Friday after torrential rain flowed off Lucks Hill and into the building just after 9.30am.

According to headteacher, Danny Coleman, two thirds of the building was under several inches of water.

Headteacher, Danny Coleman, says more needs to be done to maintain drains along Luck Hill
Headteacher, Danny Coleman, says more needs to be done to maintain drains along Luck Hill

The power had to be turned off after the boiler room flooded and children were sent home at 10am.

One fire engine attended the scene earlier and so far two tankers have arrived to pump water out of nearby drains.

So far two tankers have attended to pump water out of drains on Luck Hill
So far two tankers have attended to pump water out of drains on Luck Hill

Kent County Council Highways reportedly told staff that they would be able to attend within an hour but didn't arrive until midday.

Clare Bush cleans the school's kitchen which will have to be fully sanitized after three inches of flood water left sediment covering the floor
Clare Bush cleans the school's kitchen which will have to be fully sanitized after three inches of flood water left sediment covering the floor

Mr Coleman said: "KCC confirmed that one tanker did attend soon after our initial call but drove off as they said the flood was not severe enough.

"We won't be open tomorrow and it looks like we'll remained closed into next week for health and safety reasons as the kitchen and numerous classrooms were under water and are now caked in mud."

It is the second time the school has flooded in the past six years with staff blaming poor maintenance of nearby drains for the incidents.

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