A BOY has been excluded from an East Lancashire school after an air pistol was found in his bag.

Police were called to Hollins County High School, Accrington, and confiscated the gun as pupils prepared to break up for the Easter holidays yesterday. The boy's grandparents were contacted by headteacher Frank Havard and took him home.

Mr Havard said: "There has been an incident at the school when a child was found with an air pistol in his bag. The air pistol has not been discharged in the school.

"The child has been excluded from the school and he was taken home by his grandparents. This is an isolated incident and something we as a school take very seriously. We immediately contacted the grandparents and reported it to the police.

"The boy was extremely foolish to bring the air pistol into the school. "He didn't have any ammunition that the gun would fire but bringing that sort of thing into the school is totally unacceptable."

Mr Havard said he will now have to decide on the boy's future immediately after the holidays and that the matter would go before the school's governors.

Inspector Dave Whittle, of Accrington Police, said: "We have been to the school and seized an air pistol from a youth at the school.

"Officers inquired into the matter and at this moment in time we intend to take no further action."