A MUSLIM teacher at the centre of a police probe over claims he warned pupils that he would plant a bomb on their bus insisted last night that it was all a misunderstanding.

Physics teacher Mazin Albarq insisted he knew nothing of complaints from parents that he told children he knew how to make a parcel bomb and put it on their school bus.

Mr Albarq said he also knew nothing of the police investigation and insisted: "This does not seem fair."

The father-of-one said he had contacted a solicitor after learning about the inquiry from journalists.

Supply teacher Mr Albarq is alleged to have told pupils who were not paying attention at St Bede's RC School and Sixth Form College, in Lanchester, County Durham, that he was from Bethlehem and knew how to make a parcel bomb to put on their school bus.

Speaking from his Darlington home, Mr Albarq said: "I am originally from Palestine but I am British.

"I have heard nothing from the school or from the police.

"The decent thing would have been to contact me, surely. "

Durham Police said they would be investigating whether a criminal offence had been made because of the nature of the remarks.

In a statement released by Durham County Council, headteacher Maureen Bates said: "A member of staff engaged for a few days from a supply agency no longer works here. There were no complaints made about the teacher's conduct during his time at the school.

"The allegations came to light after he left and, as soon as we became aware of them, we informed the agency and police."