A YOUNG boy has been excluded from a primary school after being caught offering his classmates a herbal substance he claimed was drugs.

The year five boy was excluded from Springfield Primary School, in Darlington, last Wednesday after he was discovered offering other pupils the substance.

However, the school did not inform parents about the incident until Friday.

A parent, who asked not be named, said the minute the matter came to light, a letter should have been sent out to parents telling them about the incident.

He added: "I think we should be the first people that know about it. I want to talk to my son about this and find out if he's been offered anything.

"A lot of parents are saying if this boy's still in the school they won't be bringing their kids back."

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said the boy had been excluded until after the half-term holiday while the matter was investigated.

He added: "The school has a strict policy on such matters and this came into effect immediately. That policy has involved investigating the incident and then taking a decision as to whether it was serious enough to notify parents.

"In this case, the school felt that parents should be informed and, as a result, letters have been sent out.

"It is extremely important to point out that this is the first incident of its kind at Springfield School and, as yet, it has not been confirmed that the substance in question was drugs.

"We are waiting to hear from the police and, once we have, we will decide what, if any, action needs to be taken."

Police confirmed a small amount of a "herbal substance" was given to them and they were investigating what it is.

Elaine Kay, regional secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said: "It's not at all usual for primary school children to openly take something into school of that nature.

"But this is something that teachers and our members are extremely vigilant about."