A SCHOOLBOY ripped off the top of his finger as he tried to climb over a fence to get a bag of chips for his lunch.

Jack Morris, 12, of Glebe Street, Westhoughton, tried to haul himself over the school fence but his finger was speared.

The index finger on his left hand was hanging off, but the calm youngster raised the alarm by alerting staff.

His mother, Carole, was called to the school and went with him to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Doctors removed the section of finger and packed it in ice in the hope that it could be sewn back on. He was then taken to Manchester's Withington Hospital for specialist treatment.

But surgeons attempting micro-surgery at the hospital were unable to save it because of the extensive damage caused.

Today Jack was still recovering in the Manchester hospital three days after the accident.

His mother, Carole, said: "I do not hold the school at fault in any way. Jack is not the first youngster to try to climb over the fence, but maybe now he will be the last.

"He tried to pull himself up but he is a tall lad and weighs 10 stones, and he couldn't manage it. Instead, a spike at the top of the fence ripped into his finger.

"He has told me that he thought he would go out to get some chips for dinner.

"You try to tell children not to climb fences -- at schools or factories -- but they think you are just trying to ruin their fun.

"Thankfully, Jack will be OK, but I would like to thank everyone for their help. The school and the hospital staff have been fantastic.

"Jack has been very brave. He was so calm that he was even telling them at school what they should be doing."