KNIVES, guns and drugs have been confiscated from schoolchildren in the region.

Langbaurgh police report that a total of 84 pupils from secondary schools on Tees-side were questioned by officers in the past year.

A further 23 have been arrested in Middlesbrough, and six east Cleveland youngsters were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court for serious offences, figures show.

Incidents include a youth who brandished a sword on school grounds and had to be tackled by staff, and pupils being left with eye injuries after attacks by youngsters using ball bearing guns.

One pupil had £80 worth of cannabis seized after he tried to deal it among schoolmates.

The statistics have been released by Langbaurgh's behaviour, attendance and truancy team, which deals with such incidents when they are referred to it by headteachers.

The team is made up of police, education welfare officers and youth workers, and has been working to cut crime, bullying, anti-social behaviour and truancy in Redcar and Cleveland schools.

The figures follow a recent incident in Darlington where two schoolchildren were put on bail after carrying knives to a fight with a rival school.

The pair were among three boys suspended from Branksome School and Carmel RC Technology College last month, after being found with the weapons on school premises.

Darlington Youth Offending Team is considering the offences, and will decide this month if they will be charged.