A primary school went into lockdown and police were called after a trespasser entered the grounds.

Senior staff were deployed around access points at Phoenix Primary School, in Chatham, when a member of the public entered the premises this afternoon, and officers arrived within five minutes of being called.

In a letter sent home to parents, headteacher Melissa Ireland-Hubbert said the trespasser was “contained immediately” and at no point were students at the Glencoe Road school in any danger.

The letter, seen by KentOnline, says: “I am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred earlier today which required us to implement a ‘lockdown’ procedure.

“A member of the public gained access to the school via the perimeter, prompting us to activate our ‘Quiet like mice’ policies and procedures.”

She continued: “I want to assure you that our protocols were robust and all children were kept safe with the trespasser contained immediately.

“The police were called and responded promptly, arriving on-site within five minutes. In addition, senior staff were deployed around the school to secure access points.”

“As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, schools across the country are increasingly implementing lockdown procedures to ensure the safety of both students and staff in case of any potential threats. I am pleased to report that the trespasser was apprehended and removed from the site by the police, and at no point were our students in any danger.

“I appreciate that incidents like these can be worrying for parents, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the parents and families who collaborated with us during this time. Your understanding and support are invaluable to us.”

Mrs Ireland-Hubbert said that such incidents are rare, and she’s proud of how students and staff responded.

She added: “The effective procedures and practices in place meant that everyone knew how to act to keep themselves and others safe during the lockdown.”

One mum, who did not want to be named, said her daughter found the incident distressing.

She said: “My eldest child was clearly distressed and stated she never wants to go back. They were told to hide under tables and stay quiet as mice. My daughter said she was cramped into a book corner with a number of other kids.”

She added: “I got a notification on a school dojo [app] just after 2pm saying they had to temporarily lockdown the school due to a trespasser, and that the kids and staff were safe.

“My partner was home so he immediately went round to collect our two children.”

Police officers confirmed they were called to the school grounds just before 2pm to reports of a woman trespassing.

Patrols attended the scene where advice was given and the person was escorted from the premises. No further police action was required.