More than 600 pupils have been kept at home today after a sickness bug broke out at Oakfield Community Primary School in Dartford.

The school has been struck by the norovirus, which causes severe vomiting and diarrohoea, leaving more than 85% of the school’s 700 pupils at home. More than 100 children fell ill.

Parents were encouraged to keep their children at home today and the school will be subject to a deep clean over the weekend.

Executive head Garry Ratcliffe said: “We have had higher levels of absence than normal during the week and it came to a head yesterday when we had over 100 children absent.