PUPILS from a school destroyed in an arson attack were assaulted on their second day at a temporary college.

A small number of students from Tideway School in Newhaven, which suffered £3 million worth of fire damage two weeks ago, were attacked at East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) yesterday.

The perpetrators were not from either school and no pupils were seriously injured.

All Tideway pupils have now left the college.

Mark Whitby, acting headteacher at Comart, said a group of youths, who had been drinking alcohol, believed there was bullying going on at the school. They threw stones and scaled a fence and assaulted some Tideway students in the playground.

Mr Whitby called the police and made arrangements for a police presence at the end of the school day, when Tideway pupils were ushered on to a coach.

He said: "All the students and staff were very shaken. Both Tideway and Comart students were upset.

"Since I have been here we have never had an incident like this.

"It's a shame. Everything had been going well. We were all pleased the students had settled in well."

Year 11 pupils from Tideway started at Comart on Monday and were supposed to stay there for four weeks until study-leave for their GCSE's began but now headteacher Adrian Money is reviewing the arrangements.

He has called an emergency meeting with governors today to come up with a new plan of action.

Mr Money said: "My two priorities are, and always have been, to ensure the safety of my students, whether in Newhaven or elsewhere, and to get Year 11 students back into education as soon as possible. We are extremely grateful to staff and pupils at Comart, who made us feel welcome and are disappointed this has happened."

Sussex Police are investigating the incident.

The blaze at Tideway on April 5 destroyed the school's main hall, reception and staff room and more than 70 firefighters tackled the fire.