AN overseas student has been formally cautioned by police over inappropriate behaviour with a female pupil while on work placement at an historic cathedral school.

The incident took place in late 2013 at the 600-year-old Durham Chorister School, which counts former Prime Minister Tony Blair among its old pupils.

The authorities at the school reported it to the police in early 2014, by which time the student had returned to his home country.

He agreed to return to the UK as a “voluntary attender”, admitted inappropriate behaviour with a girl and was given a formal caution for the offence.

The man was placed on the sex offenders’ register for two years and the authorities in his home country were informed.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Our enquiries have now concluded and there are no grounds for any further police action.”

The girl is no longer at the school.

Yvette Day, headmistress at The Chorister School, said the incident was distressing and the school was committed to ensuring a safe place for all.

“An incident took place concerning a pupil at The Chorister School and a student who had just completed a work placement.

“As soon as the school authorities became aware of the incident, it was reported to the police by the school.

“The school acted scrupulously on its legal obligations and fully co-operated with the police. No charge was made against the student, although a formal caution was issued.

“The Chorister School has rigorous safeguarding policies in place and is committed to ensuring the school is a safe place for all.

“It was distressing to learn that there had been a breach of the protocols upon which we insist, and although the incident didn’t warrant the student being charged with a criminal offence, we view very seriously any such situation involving a pupil. The pupil has since moved on to their chosen senior school.”

The Chorister School was founded for boys who sang in the Durham Cathedral choir and is more than 600-years-old.

Mr Blair attended from 1961 to 1966, overlapping with Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson.

An independent fee-paying school, it first accepted girls in 1993 and currently has around 200 pupils aged three to 13.