FILM of students at a Thurrock school fighting in the playground was posted on popular website YouTube.com as part of a new craze.

Two films of frenzied fights between students containing foul language and violent action alarmed parents who alerted the Gazette.

The footage shows fighting, in the playground at the Grays School and Media Arts College, in Hathaway Road.

The Gazette contacted the school only to be told by headteacher, Graham Winter, that he knew "nothing" about it.

The videos were removed from the YouTube site on Tuesday evening by the person who had posted them.

The uniform-clad schoolboys, who are between 11 and 13 years old, appeared on the site pummelling each other surrounded by a mob of jeering students.

At one point during the film another pupil is seen putting his thumbs up to the camera and smiling.

The boys, one of whom is still wearing his rucksack, punch, kick, and head butt one another.

Students are then logging onto the site to post comments about the brawl.

A parent, who asked not to be named, said: "We know kids fight in playgrounds but this takes it to a disturbing new level and I hope the school will clamp down on the pupils involved as a deterrent."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We would urge the school to look into matters and report any assault to us so that we can put an end to this violence.

"Alternatively we would like to here from pupils and parents if they know who is behind this."

Spokesman for Thurrock Council, Luke Walsh, added: "Violence between pupils is not tolerated at any school in Thurrock.

"Thurrock Council has every confidence in the systems for managing behaviour and dealing with any incident which might occur."