A SCHOOLBOY was taken to hospital and a school kitchen had to be closed after a squirrel went on the rampage!

The tiny rodent brought chaos to the primary school -- special arrangements were made for youngsters to get into the building and meals had to be brought in from a neighbouring school.

Now peace has been restored at St Mary's RC Primary, Devonshire Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, after the mini-terror was eventually caught.

The squirrel had been stalking the school premises for days after getting into the grounds from shrubs between the infant and junior playgrounds.

Youngsters had to be confined indoors after it went nuts and bit six-year-old pupil Dylan Whelan three times.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Tony Gallagher said the 127 pupils, aged from four to 11, were being kept indoors during school-time for their safety.

Year two pupil Dylan had to be taken to hospital after the tufty terror bit him in three places so Mr Gallagher and the pupils remained under siege even at playtime.

Even the school kitchen was closed for cleaning after the animal got in and started munching on food.

Dinner lady Jackie Sharples closed the kitchen door, trapping it inside, and Mr Gallagher rang the council's pest control officer only to be told there were no resources to deal with the problem.

He then contacted the environmental health department and says he was told the council had no responsibility or authority to deal with squirrels.

Exasperated, Mr Gallagher eventually rang a pest control company in Manchester -- Pro-kil -- who came out and caught it.

He said: "The technician was of the opinion that the squirrel was hand-reared and nasty.

"He was fortunate to escape without injury as it went for his face three times, no doubt fuelled by the banana and biscuit it ate while it was in our kitchen."

Unable to use the kitchen, meals had to be brought in from nearby Mount Pleasant Primary School, Earl Street.

Mr Gallagher added: "We look forward to getting back to being a normal school and putting these events - which would seem to be better placed in an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus -- behind us."

Dylan's mum, Yvonne Whelan, of Willow Lane, Clayton-le-Moors, said: "It was quite horrific. It made quite a mess of his fingers. One of his fingers has gone black. It's quite a shock, you don't expect to be attacked by a squirrel but it's terrorised the school for the last couple of days.

"Dylan was very upset. He was on his own and it ran round him and bit him.

"One of the dinner ladies threw a coat over him to get it off. It was a danger and a menace and it upset quite a few children. Some of them went home crying."

Dylan was treated at Accrington Victoria Hospital and released. He is now back at school.

Steve McGrail, owner of Pro-kil, said: "It was removed from the premises and shot. Usually they are no threat but I think this one was hand reared so it had no concept of fear of people.

"It went straight for me up my arm to my face and it was quite aggressive."

Coun Tim O'Kane, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Cleansing for Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "I have looked into this matter and feel that the council's staff concerned acted properly and had tried to be helpful by unsuccessfully attempting to trap the offending squirrel some weeks earlier.

"Advice was given at that time by the pest control officer that the school should consider a number of specialist companies.

"For clarification, I can confirm that this council, along with all other authorities, has no responsibility for providing a service to control pests with no public health significance such as squirrels."