The incident happened on Tuesday at the local authority-run Madras College in St Andrews, Fife, during a swimming event.

There were 13 primary-age children in the council-run pool at the time.

They belonged to a local primary school and not Madras College.

A number of children reported a tingling sensation and two children received treatment for injuries from an electrical shock

Alex McKay Fife Council

Staff had to help pull the children from the water.

They had just finished swimming a length of the pool when they touched a metal safety rail.

Both girls received an electric shock and their hands became "stuck" to the rail.

Other pupils in the swimming group then tried to pull them free but the girls were only released when a swimming instructor intervened.

All 13 pupils in the group were said to be "extremely frightened" by what happened.

Electric shock

The two girls who touched the safety rail were then taken to a local medical centre for tests.

Both were released shortly afterwards and attended school on Wednesday.

But one girl has since been sent home, apparently suffering from ill-effects of the electric shock.

The swimming lesson at the pool was arranged by the Law Head Parent Teacher Association

Some parents were understood to have been spectators at the session when the incident occurred.

Fife Council admitted that electrical work had been taking place in the building earlier in the day.

Fife Council's Head of Education, Alex McKay, said it was taking the situation very seriously.

He said: "Staff responded immediately and removed the children from the pool.

This could have been a far more dangerous situation, but thankfully it was brought under control with speed

Police spokesman

''A number of children reported a tingling sensation and two children received treatment for injuries from an electrical shock.

''On the same day electrical work had taken place in the building.

''We are alarmed about the potential risk of this serious situation to people in the building and our first concerns were for the children.

"We have closed the physical education building at Madras College until a thorough investigation can be completed by ourselves in conjunction with the Heath and Safety Executive."

A police spokesman confirmed a number of children received electric shocks and mostly minor burns.

He said: "After the incident the building was very quickly cleared and secured.

"This could have been a far more dangerous situation, but thankfully it was brought under control with speed."