Cecil Road Primary School in Gravesend has sent pupils home today and closed after a suspected case of coronavirus.

Reception staff confirmed the school would close for two days in order to carry out a deep clean, but said the case of Covid-19 has not been confirmed.

A text sent to parents said: "We have a suspected case of coronavirus and following DfE guidance we will now have to close the school to allow a deep clean to start.

"Please could you collect your child today at 1.15pm as this will mean the cleaning company can come on site and start immediately.

"Please come to the school office if you have a child in our nursery and would like to collect older siblings at the same time."

A second message was subsequently sent explaining the school planned to reopen on Monday, March 16.

One parent of a child at the school backed the school's decision.

"In all honesty I'm not that surprised that it has started to happen, but I'm pleased they have reacted so quickly," they said. "They have made the decision as quickly as they have found something and identified a way to deal with it. Their duty of care is so strong."

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend