AN 11-year-old boy was left hanging by his tie from a school door by a gang of bullies and could have been killed, his angry mother claimed today.

She said her son, who has learning difficulties, had earlier been kicked and punched by five pupils at The Deane School.

Police officers confirmed they were investigating the bullying allegations.

School chiefs have refused to comment on a report that five pupils at the school have been suspended.

But the 30-year-old mother of the boy -- a Year Seven pupil who has only been at the secondary school for two months -- called for his attackers, believed to be 14-year-olds, to be expelled.

She said her son was left dangling from a doorway by his tie with his feet off the ground. He was freed by another boy who managed to undo the tie to free him.

The boy was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but was released after treatment. Today, as police confirmed that the hanging allegation is being investigated, the boy's mother said: "I want the matter taking as far as possible His mother said: "The older boys responsible should not be allowed back. He could have been killed. They have been suspended for only 10 days.

"He is a vulnerable child. He is small and only 11. He did not stand a chance."

She also claims the gang left another 11-year-old boy terrified after hanging him by his rucksack on a doorway next to her son at the same time.

The other boy -- who also escaped unhurt -- managed to free her son by reaching across and undoing the knot in his tie so he could slip his head out.

She said her son "poured his heart out" to her after after the incident.

The mother-of-three added: "He knew he was choking and said he was petrified. His teacher said he was in shock.

"He told me they pinned him against a wall, took his tie off and tied it in a knot around his neck.

"They lifted him up and put him on a hinge on a large fire door in a corridor. He said it was quite high up and he was well off the ground. He tried to kick out at them but had no chance.

"We do not know how long he was up there but it does not take long for something awful to happen.

"His eyes were swollen and he was very upset although he did not have any marks on his neck."

The schoolboy suffers from Dyspraxia -- a condition often the result of premature birth. It causes problems in the way the brain processes information, leading to learning problems.

It affects 10 per cent of the population and was once called 'Clumsy Child Syndrome'.

The boy has made a statement to police via a video link. Officers are also thought to be studying footage filmed on a CCTV security system at the school.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The circumstances involved an assault on an 11-year-old pupil by a gang of youths. Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing."

Today, Tony Hill, headteacher of the school in New York, Deane, said he was aware of the alleged incident but he said the details as given by the mother were "factually incorrect".

He said: "We have carried out a full investigation, talking to those said to be involved, and we are sure about what did happen.e

"I do not want to discuss individual cases concerning pupils.

"But in general terms, every school has bullying and we have policies in place at the school to deal with those incidents we are aware of."