A TEACHER has been suspended amid allegations of smacking children in her care, it was revealed last night.

The female teacher, who has not been named, was suspended on full pay from her post at Darlington's Springfield Primary School.

It has been alleged that the woman struck several children at the school on Tuesday and was suspended the same day.

The exact number of children who claimed to have been smacked is not yet known.

The alleged incident is the subject of investigations by police and child protection officials from Darlington Borough Council, which is responsible for the school.

A spokesman for the council last night said: "A teacher has been suspended pending a full investigation."

He said that the investigation would be carried out by child protection officers, "as is normal in any investigations into any alleged incidents such as these".

Last night, Durham Constabulary confirmed it was investigating the claims.

A spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that we are investigating allegations that children at a junior school in Darlington have been smacked."

The school recently last year received a good Ofsted report.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, criticised the council for not informing parents properly.

She said: "This is disgraceful that we were not told about this officially. We had to hear it from our own children and through rumours.

The school is in Salter's Lane, Darlington, in the Haughton West Ward.

Ward Councillor Nick Wallis said: "No parent has ever expressed any concern about the school to me, it is a very happy and nurturing environment."

Councillor David Lyonette, who is on the school's board of governors, said he had only just heard about the incident.

He said: "This is the first I've heard about it."

This is believed to be the first allegation of this kind at the school.