BOLTON teachers have sent their condolences to Russia following the terrorist school atrocity in Beslan.

The Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers wrote a letter to the Education and Science Employees' Union of Russia expressing deepest sympathy.

Branch secretary Barry Conway said: "As fellow teachers, we understand the close relationship that develops with pupils, which makes the killing of so many children so difficult to comprehend."

Kidnappers seized control of School Number One in Beslan, Southern Russia on Wednesday and held a 53 hour siege. More than 1,000 children and adult were held hostage.

The captors were Muslim separatists, said to include Arab mercenaries, who demanded a Russian withdrawal of troops from Chechnya.