Headteacher Amrit Bal-Richards said she will be vigilant for its return

One staff member was scratched during the encounter

Children had to be taken back inside the school for their own safety

Rodent has been terrorising teachers and pupils at Chater Infants School

Schoolchildren were forced to evacuate a playground after a rampant squirrel caused havoc during breaktime.

A teacher at Chater Infants School in Watford, Hertfordshire, had to herd the youngsters back into the safety of the building after an 'unusually aggressive' grey squirrel disrupted their afternoon playtime.

One member of staff was even scratched during the encounter but fortunately no children were hurt in the incident.

The unusually aggressive squirrel caused havoc at the school which was forced to evacuate its playground (stock pic)

Headteacher Amrit Bal-Richards said they were monitoring the situation and the caretaker is being extra vigilant, but the squirrel has not been sighted again.

She said: 'We did have an incident where we had a squirrel.

'It is very uncommon for a squirrel to be a little aggressive. It was a little bit tempered. We will be monitoring the situation and the caretaker is being extra vigilant.

'We talked to the children at an assembly the following day to say some times animals can be aggressive and a bit tempered and what to do if that happens.'

Mrs Bal-Richards said it was procedure to take pupils inside if there is an issue to make sure they were safe.

Staff at Chater Infants School in Watford, Hertfordshire (pictured) are keeping vigilant for the return on the furry menace

She said: 'We would obviously make sure if there was an issue around the children and they were becoming frightened, we do advise teachers take children back into the school and make sure they are safe.

'The incident was a couple of weeks ago, since then we have not actually seen the squirrel.

'As is the case with cats, dogs, rabbits when they do come into contact with a human, they do have sharp claws.'

Squirrels can become aggressive if they feel they are being threatened or if they feel someone is trying to steal a food source.

They often warn a threat by chattering their teeth as a warning towards whoever, or whatever, is in the vicinity.