AN ANGRY mother told how her son was given an overdose of medicine by a teacher at his school.

Marcus Malone was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital struggling to breath and with high blood pressure after the mistake.

The nine-year-old boy had been given his daily lunchtime medication at school before the incident.

But staff at Gurney Pease Primary School in Darlington immediately realised the dose was too big and rushed him to hospital.

While the education authority has admitted a mistake was made the National Union of Teachers believed their members should not be shouldered with the responsibility of administering tablets to children in the first place.

Marcus has to take two methylphenidate (Ritalin) tablets every day for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

For full story see Boxing Day's Northern Echo