Fifty teachers and children were locked inside kindergarten classrooms for almost three hours in a dispute between business partners, reports Yangcheng Evening News.

With more than 10 people in tow, the former director of Xiyuan Kindergarten in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, surnamed Li, came to the kindergarten at 7:40 am on Tuesday, said teachers.

They put an announcement that the kindergarten was closed but some children had already arrived and more were on their way. One of the Li's gang then sealed the gate to the second-floor classrooms with a chain lock.

The teachers and children were not freed until police severed the chain with an electric saw at around 10:30 am.

Li and the current director, Wu, were partners when the kindergarten opened four years ago.

Their relationship went sour last year, leading to an unresolved lawsuit.

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