A Berlin primary school had to be evacuated after children began suffering side effects of an "irritant gas".

German police said they were called to the school at around 9am on Friday, with reports that several pupils were complaining of breathing difficulties.

It reported that the gas may have been released in a hallway of Miriam Makeba Elementary School in Moabit.

The city's fire department told Sky News that 37 children were affected. Of those seven required treatment, with one child taken to hospital.

In total, 400 pupils were evacuated from the premises as emergency services investigated.

"The building has been evacuated and ventilated," Berlin police wrote in a post on social media.

"Currently there is no longer any danger."

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A spokesperson for the force said they could not currently confirm the type of gas or the cause of the incident.