LASER pens have been banned by Culcheth High School.

And headteacher Geoff Caton has called for them to be declared illegal throughout Europe.

He is demanding an end to the "menace" of the guns after 12-year-old Natalie Richards was the target of an attack by a fellow pupil.

She was rushed to Warrington General Hospital for treatment but luckily suffered only minor abrasions to both eyes.

Her father Jeff, a Warrington councillor, and mum Julie, 37, are joining the school's campaign to have the laser pens banned.

They are calling on Warrington South MP Helen Southworth to raise the subject in the House of Commons.

Mr Caton, who joined the school some three months ago, said: "Pupils were informed last month that laser pens were banned from school and that they are dangerous.

"And after the incident with Natalie I am demanding they should be banned, not just throughout this country, but throughout the whole of Europe."

He added: "The lad who shone the laser into Natalie's eyes has had disciplinary action taken against him and he is very distressed that he caused her such problems."

Julie Richards said: "We were shocked when we heard what had happened to Natalie.

"She was rushed to hospital for treatment where she was seen by an eye specialist who told us how lucky she was.

"She could have been blinded!

"My husband has written to our MP asking for her backing in getting these pens banned.

"We are totally against them being sold at all to anyone, and we want them declared illegal. Natalie was very lucky, and we wouldn't like someone else to have to suffer with such trauma."

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