Seven pupils were rushed to churches to be exorcised after they were allegedly possessed by 'evil spirits' while attending school in the Philippines.

The ninth grade students from Carcar Central National High School sparked alarm among their classmates and teachers when they were reportedly taken over by the 'demonic entities' in Cebu province on September 23.

Witnesses said the children began convulsing suddenly, the whites of their eyes showing as they spat gibberish at the teachers trying to calm them down.

They also reportedly displayed unusual strength for their size, prompting the terrified educators to call local police for help.

In apparent signs of manifestation, two girls were filmed thrashing around and glaring bloody murder at their surroundings.

Another clip shows one female student growling while wearing what appeared to be a rosary around her neck to dampen the spirits' influence as she was pinned down by officers and faith healers.

None of them reportedly recognised their relatives, who rushed to the school after being notified of the supernatural incident.

The seven students were taken to the Theotokos Shrine and the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Carcar City to expel the hostile spirits seemingly occupying their bodies.

Speaking to local media, Police Lieutenant Colonel Ardiolito Cabagnot, Carcar City police chief, said: 'We needed to give them time to be exorcised. There were many witnesses who saw that the students were acting strange.'

Monsignor Jojo Dosado, team moderator of the St. Catherine de Alexandria shrine, said: 'People tend to become hysterical when they see these incidents. They say it's a demon, but it still has to be proven.

'The church believes in exorcism. But priests don't respond right away to events like these because we as humans also have limitations and weaknesses.'

Local media said the students have recovered and are now in stable condition, but some of their classmates were too scared to go to school following the incident.