A woman was detained outside a West Wickham infant school after she climbed over the 8ft fence before allegedly taking her top and bra off in front of children in the playground.

The 30-year-old woman was caught by police outside Pickhurst Infant Academy, in Pickhurst Lane, and taken to a south London hospital for a mental health assessment.

The parent of a pupil, who asked not to be named, said she has fears over safety at the school following the incident last Tuesday.

She told News Shopper: “We got an email from the school head mistress to say a lady not known to the school had climbed over the fence, gotten into the school grounds and took her top and her bra off.

“She actually got on to the playground with the children at lunchtime.

“What is she was an extremist, or a nutter with a gun or a knife?

“She could have killed one of the children or harmed them.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called just before 1pm to reports of a woman in distress in Pickhurst Lane.

She was not arrested and no-one was injured in the incident.

The parent said she and others feel their fears have not been addressed properly.

She said: “They’re making out to us parents that we were overreacting.

“They were just taking in to an assembly and told the lady wasn’t well and didn’t know what she was doing .

“I just don’t feel it’s acceptable.”

Head of the school, Elizabeth Laws, told News Shopper: "Following the recent incident, where a woman climbed over an 8ft locked rear gate at Pickhurst Infant Academy, I wish to confirm that the school is extremely confident that the site is secure during school hours.

"This was a very unusual and rare incident which was dealt with swiftly and effectively by school staff and the local police.

"I assure you that site security is of paramount importance to the school and it is continually reviewed to ensure the safety of the students and staff."