A BOY found carrying a knife has been expelled from school.

As reported in The Northern Echo yesterday, the weapon was seized from the pupil from Darlington's Carmel RC Technology College, along with knives from two boys from Branksome Comprehensive School.

The Branksome pupils were suspended, and last night a spokesman for Darlington local education authority said the Carmel pupil had been expelled.

The spokesman said: "The pupil was found with a knife in his pocket, not brandishing it or anything. Teachers found it last Thursday and there was an investigation.

"The pupil has been permanently excluded, as I understand it."

The knives were confiscated by police only hours before pupils from the schools were due to meet for a fight in Sugar Hill Park, on Friday.

Inspector Chris Reeves, who runs Darlington's anti-social behaviour unit, said that no fight took place.

He said: "We have had rumours of fights, but there has been no large-scale fighting between the schools."