STUDENTS and parents at a grammar school have been issued with an emergency plan in the event of a terrorist attack.

The contingency scheme drawn up at Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls in Old Dover Road, Canterbury, is thought to be the first of its kind in Kent, if not Britain.

It comes in the wake of heightened fears of an al-Queda strike somewhere in Britain, which could impact on the city.

Headteacher Anthony Stanton has warned of a number of disaster scenarios including a radio active cloud spreading across Kent from Dungeness power station, a contaminated water supply or breakdown in transport and communications.

He denies the measures are alarmist, saying they are just sensible and practical precautions. But he admits that some parents and pupils have been surprised by the announcement of the emergency plan during assembly and through letters which have been sent to pupils' homes.

He added: "We are simply asking parents whether they want their children to be collected, sent home or taken to a friend's house. The management team began drawing up the strategy after September 11 because it is vital for everybody to know exactly how the school would function in the event of an attack.