TWO pupils have been suspended from school in connection with an alleged bullying campaign that left two 12-year-old girls too scared to leave their homes.

The move came after reported incidents against Sarah Claydon and Carol-Ann Harrison, at Haughton School, in Darlington, which is part of the country's first Education Village.

During a three-month period, Carol-Ann said she had her hair set alight, Sarah said she was assaulted, and both said they were repeatedly threatened.

Police were called by the girls' parents after an incident two weeks ago where four youths allegedly tried to drown the pair in the River Skerne during a lunch break.

Yesterday, officers were continuing to investigate the claims.

The situation became so bad that Carol-Ann told her mother, Jane, she was contemplating suicide, and both girls were kept away from school until the start of this week, when they decided to return to keep up their exam studies.

Yesterday, it was announced that two girls had been suspended from Haughton School as a result of the allegations and other matters.

Two others accused of being involved have been given warnings.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Sarah's mother, Nicola, said she did not think the school had done enough.

She said: "The school has not been very supportive. They knew why we were keeping Sarah off, but in all that time, they only sent us one lot of homework.

"We found her a place at another school, but she wanted to go back to Haughton.

"Every day she goes there, I worry from the minute she leaves the house until she gets back at night. I really do not think the school has done enough, and am very worried she might not be safe."

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council, on behalf of the school, confirmed that four pupils had been reprimanded, and that two of them had been suspended.

She said: "Staff at the school have worked very hard to resolve the situation.

"The headteacher, David Bradley, has met with the parents of the pupils who made the complaint on numerous occasions, as well as speaking to them on the phone, to discuss the matter.

"He has also met with the children."