A BOY was suspended from primary school for a day for taking in a toy gun.

Stuart Thomson, ten, spent a day at home after he was excluded from Hazelmere Junior School in Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester.

His mother, Samantha Patterson, of Laburnum Grove, Colchester, believes the school has overreacted to the toy, which fires foam “bullets”. She said: “He had it in his bag and did not fire it, but the headteacher said it was a major incident.

“It is absolutely ridiculous. He should not have taken it to school, but this is taking it too far.”

Headteacher Jenny Firth defended the decision saying no guns, not even toys, should be taken into school.

She said: “As a school we have a duty of care to the children and whatever type of gun it was, it should not have been taken to school.

“You don’t know how much damage could be done and we need to send the message it is unacceptable to bring it in.

“It is only a one-day exclusion because of his good track record.

“There was an incident a few years ago when we thought there was a worse weapon and we did have to call police.

“Other children may have more real guns at home and if they bring them in, a child could have an eye taken out.”

She added the school had to maintain the standard that no gun is acceptable.