A HEADTEACHER has vowed to take prompt action if his pupils are caught misbehaving in public.

Newly-appointed head at Parrenthorn High School, Mr Mick Fitzgerald, said he would tackle the problem there and then if he received any calls complaining about their behaviour.

His comments were made to Prestwich Business Forum after the manager of a travel agents said his shop in the Longfield Precinct was being plagued by local schoolchildren.

Mr Elliot Moss, manager of the Prestwich branch of PR World Travel, said: "At 3.30pm each day there are school children hanging around, bouncing their ball off the windows and intimidating people who come into the shop. On one occasion there was a group of around 12 lads and I asked them politely to move on, one of them could fall through the window and hurt themselves.

"All 12 turned around and said something that was not complimentary. I contacted the school and they told me to just ring the police."

Mr Moss was dissatisfied with the school's response but Insp David Jones, head of Prestwich and Whitefield Township, said he was aware of the incident and confirmed that the school, which was not named, did send a member of staff to the precinct to investigate.

Insp Jones said: "Sometimes you will get that response but most schools would take a more helpful view. They would not want their uniforms associated with bad behaviour."

Mr Fitzgerald, who recently took over the role of headteacher of Parrenthorn from Mr Arthur Francis, added: "Some young people do let us down but if it was my school I would have got in my car, driven down to the precinct and tackled them myself. If I am not available then I would make sure a senior member of staff would come down. If anything does happen, then please ask for me personally."