A HEADTEACHER at the centre of an alleged slapping investigation was suspended from his job yesterday.

The action was taken by the chairman of the governors at Sunnybrow Primary School, near Willington, County Durham, against long-serving headteacher Geoff Swinton, pending a meeting of the full governing body tomorrow.

Child protection officers are investigating claims from a ten-year-old girl that she was struck on the face last week during a five-day field studies trip to Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Other parents have claimed that girls were made to stand outside their dormitory in their nightwear as a punishment for talking.

The alleged incident took place while the 25 pupils and two members of staff on the trip were taking part in an educational walk.

Child protection officers from Durham Police and social services are interviewing other children from the group. Durham County Council, the local education authority, is also investigating