A PRIMARY school alleged to have used a Victorian punishment to stop a child from fidgeting was yesterday being investigated by education bosses.

An eight-year-old boy is said to have had his fingers clamped to two wooden blocks, with his hands tied behind his back, after he snapped a pencil in class.

The blocks were on loan to Sherburn Hill Junior and Infant School in Sherburn, County Durham, and had been part of a demonstration about life in 19th Century classrooms.

It is alleged that the boy was put under restraint using the blocks three times during one day.

Two teachers are alleged to have gone further than merely using the artefacts as historical aids, by employing them in their original function to punish the boy.

The incident is said to have happened two weeks ago and, following a complaint, an investigation was launched by Durham County Council.

In a statement, the council confirmed that an investigation into two members of staff was nearing completion. Neither has been suspended.

The statement said: ''The wooden blocks mentioned in relation to the investigation are, in fact, a genuine artefact from the education authority's historical archive, which were used to stop Victorian schoolchildren 'fidgeting' in class.

''They were on loan to Sherburn Hill primary school and their use was being demonstrated to pupils to give them living history experience of what Victorian schoolchildren may have encountered."

The council said they were used the same way as children visiting a museum might be invited to try artefacts no longer in common use.

Scott Meikle, of Haswell Plough, east Durham, the boy's stepfather, said: "I'm a great believer in punishment, but not that kind of punishment."

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "We have yet to establish if any criminal offence has been committed."