A COURT date has been set for six pupils accused of affray after the disturbance at Moorhead High School, Accrington, in January.

The boys -- one aged 14, three 15 and two 16 -- have all denied the offence and will appear before Hyndburn Youth Court on September 9.

As a condition of their bail the boys, three of whom are white and three Asian, must not go within 50 metres of the Queens Road West school boundary until their case is heard, unless they are given prior permission by acting headmistress Joan Hayselden.

Eight pupils were permanently excluded from the school after the major disturbance on January 14.

It was thought to have been sparked by a dispute between two pupils which brought riot vans and dog handlers into the Queens Road West school.

Provisions are set to be made so that the students can still sit their examinations in May this year.

Governors and management at the school initially suspended 19 pupils as a result of the disturbances and nine students have been readmitted to the school.

Two more are expected to be readmitted after the Easter break.