POLICE were called to defuse a potential flashpoint outside a North-East school.

Officers attended Hummersknott Academy, in Edinburgh Drive, Darlington, at the end of the school day on Monday (February 3).

Vice-principal Nick Merrifield said no fighting took place.

He added: “We were aware of a small group of individuals – not from this school – that arrived at the school gates at a time when people were leaving school for the day.

“Staff here called police and officers dealt with those individuals.”

A spokeswoman for Darlington police confirmed that, while some youths had been spoken to, no arrests had been made.