AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after three pupils from a Kent school claimed they were raped during a summer holiday trip.

Teachers and pupils are being interviewed as part of a Kent County Council probe into the circumstances surrounding the trip to Belize in July.

The female pupils were on a month-long adventure holiday when they claimed the incident happened.

As students returned to lessons, news of the alleged attack has begun to filter through the school which has not been named.

The holiday, organised by the school, was in partnership with the company Adventure Lifesigns. The trip is a mixture of community projects, team-building exercises and challenges.

Kent County Council said it had strict and comprehensive guidelines on school trip security for every school to follow.

Adventure Lifesigns added that the Belize team included a mountain leader, assistant leader and school teacher and, at the site in question, also a security guard.

A company spokesman said: "All of our expeditions adhere to the Young Explorers Trust guidelines"

A spokesman said the investigation was normal procedure but insisted, at this early stage, there appeared to have been no lapse in security.

A senior member of staff from the Local Education Authority has also visited Belize to liaise with the British High Commission there.

Dr Ian Craig, assistant director of education, said: "The LEA has been kept informed of the situation throughout and has given the school, the girls, and the parents every support."

The Foreign Office also offered the school party support while it was still in South America.

A man believed to be the prime suspect in the alleged incident is thought to be in hiding.