A PUBLIC school has come under attack for its handling of pupils returning from the Far East, amid growing concerns about the spread of the Sars virus.

Barnard Castle School was criticised by Darlington landlady Marion Harrison, who felt she had been misled, and a Barnard Castle hotelier, who called in social services regarding the welfare of two boys aged 13 and 14.

The situation arose after head teacher Michael Featherstone advised parents that pupils from Hong Kong could not return to school unless they had been back in the country for ten days prior to the start of term.

Mrs Harrison, who runs The Nook guesthouse in Southend Avenue, told the D&S Times that she received a telephone booking from a woman who normally looked after the boys, but who was going on holiday.

"She didn't say she was from the school, but gave the impression the four boys had been staying with her," said Mrs Harrison. "It was only later that I discovered they had returned from Hong Kong on the day they came to stay here.

"I have two young children and a houseful of guests. If I had been put in the picture I would not have accepted them," she added. "The school is quick enough at taking fees and should have been quick to take responsibility."

The Barnard Castle landlady was less bothered by Sars than the fact she found herself responsible for unaccompanied boys of 13 and 14.

"I was not so much worried about them travelling from Hong Kong, because there are no restrictions on anyone else arriving from there," she said. "But it is illegal for me to take unaccompanied children under 16 and I was worried about their welfare."

Feeling the school had a "duty of care", she rang to say she was going to contact social services, and was in fact advised to do so by Mr Featherstone. They were then monitored by social services until picked up by a school guardian.

The D&S Times put it to Mr Featherstone that local people might draw the conclusion that it seemed all right for pupils to be out in the community rather than quarantined at school.

But Mr Featherstone felt such criticism would be unjustified.

"We issued the ten-day rule to be ultra-sensitive to concerns," he said. "Hong Kong parents have co-operated positively. But as long as the Government says they are free to travel, I can't stop them making arrangements without reference to the school."

Mr Featherstone said one or two parents had expressed concerns before the holidays, but once put in the picture there had been no complaints about the way the situation was handled.