A TEENAGER has been suspended from school after showing off a gun to classmates.

The 14-year-old boy had borrowed the heavy metal gun from a friend and was showing it off in class to the alarm of one his fellow pupils at Smithills High School.

A teacher who noticed the gun following the reaction by a girl pupil immediately confiscated the weapon which turned out to be a spud-gun, capable of firing only potatoes.

The boy was excluded after his parents were called to the school.

His parents were said to be appalled by the incident and promised to dispose of the toy gun.

Deputy Head Chris Roberts described the boy's actions as "very stupid" in the light of recent events at a school in Arkansas in America where four pupils and a teacher were shot dead by boys.

He said: "This was only a toy but the word replica is appropriate in describing it."

"The boy had been given the gun by a friend and he brought it into school to show off."

Headteacher Mike Keho is away at a conference.

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