Eighty children treated in hospital after outbreak of 'demonic possession' in Peruvian school where pupils say they had visions of 'a man in black' trying to kill them

Scores of children at a school in Peru have suffered seizures and described visions of a man in black trying to kill them in what locals say was a mass case of 'demonic possession'.

Disturbing footage has emerged of up to 80 students convulsing, screaming and fainting at Elsa Perea Flores School in northern Peru's Tarapoto.

Experts are struggling to explain the hysteria that broke out at the school, which was reportedly built on a Mafia graveyard.

Dozens of youngsters have been experiencing the supposedly contagious 'condition' since it was first reported in April.

Children aged between 11 and 14 are reportedly fainting and having strong muscular convulsions.

Shocking video shows pupils who are barely conscious, repeatedly screaming, and who appear to be delirious.

Doctor Antony Choy told national channel Panamericana TV: 'We don't understand how this has kept going on.

'We know it started on April 29 and now it is still happening. Now there are almost 80 pupils [still affected].'

Elsa de Pizango, a concerned mother whose daughter has experienced some of the symptoms, said: 'She fainted in school. They didn't say anything at the hospital. She just fainted. She keeps on spitting froth from her mouth.'

Describing her experience, a pupil not named in local media, said: 'It's disturbing for me to think about it. It's as if someone kept on chasing me from behind. 

'It was a tall man all dressed in black and with a big beard and it felt like he was trying to strangle me.

'My friends say I was screaming desperately, but I don't remember much.'

Another schoolgirl said she had trouble breathing and was desperately holding her neck as

if someone was strangling her. According to her friends, she kept screaming: 'Take it out.'