Students who left tutors in fear of their safety when they made threats of violence and rape could face prosecution.

Kingston College teachers were left in fear for their safety after students posted the offensive comments on website littlegossip.com.

A spokesman for Kingston police said the malicious comments could constitute a criminal offence.

He said: “Where appropriate and proportional, the police may record and investigate an allegation.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will review the evidence and make a decision on whether to prosecute.”

The students could now face disciplinary action from the college, which is so concerned it has written to Business Secretary Vince Cable to have the site, owned by foreign company Platinum Century, blocked.

Kingston Council has also added its voice to concern about the website, which has attracted national media attention in the past year.

Kingston Council’s director of children’s services Duncan Clark said: “All educational establishments must unite to support our teachers and protect our students from cyber bullying.

“This will be raised at the highest level and we will join national initiatives to approach and lobby Westminster to get this and similar sites suitably regulated.”

Kingston College is currently conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

Principal Peter Mayhew-Smith said some of the comments were disgusting.

The comments were deleted by the website after college lawyers complained.

A spokesman for the website said: “Offensive comments could be posted on every other social media tool or network. It is a matter of dealing with the offensive material.

“On littlegossip.com, every piece of the gossip on the site can be reported and removed quickly.”

Under the Communications Act 2003 it is an offence to send a message that would cause gross offence to the people it relates to.