A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy was so badly beaten in a school playground that police had to be called in.

Police decided to take no further action against his eight-year-old attacker after he was excluded from St Helen's Primary, on the Headland, at Hartlepool.

But the school's headteacher said she and other staff members had been left appalled by the attack.

Violence was sparked after the seven-year-old asked a group of boys if they would let him play football.

In response, one of the boys hit him repeatedly in the face, breaking his glasses and leaving his face bruised.

Headteacher Lana Totty said: "The school is not prepared to tolerate behaviour like this. Immediate action was taken following the incident and a pupil has been excluded.

"We are appalled by the incident and we are doing everything we can to help this child. We have a strong anti-bullying policy and take a very tough line on it."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police confirmed that advice had been given to the school and the parents.

The victim has been bullied a number of times at the school.

His mother said he often came home crying and had previously feigned illness to avoid going to school.