POLICE were called to arrest an 11-year-old schoolboy who smashed classroom windows and set off a fire extinguisher.

The pupil from Blatchington Mill School, in Nevill Road, Hove, locked himself in a classroom during the outburst.

Rumours spread around the school following the incident, but both Sussex Police and the school insisted no pupils or teachers were ever at risk.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “At 1.55pm on Friday 6 March officers on an organised visit to Blatchington Mill School in Hove were asked to assist with a boy who had locked himself in a classroom, broken a window and was spraying a fire extinguisher.

“The officers detained an 11-year-old-boy. The schoolboy was then taken home. No other children were ever at risk.

“School liaison officers are currently working with staff from Blatchington Mill to investigate how the incident happened and how next to proceed.

“The boy was originally arrested on suspicion of criminal damage before he was dearrested. He is not on bail.”

Blatchington Mill deputy head Richard Chamberlain said: “We have a hut we use to teach students. Only two students were in the hut that day.

“One particular student locked himself in the classroom.

“He broke the window and sprayed the fire extinguishers. It was a CO2 extinguisher.

“Any students looking out of the windows would have seen that.

“And that was pretty much it.

“The police liaison officer spoke to him and he was arrested.

“The police are currently dealing with it and we will allow the police to complete their investigation before making any decision on whether he should face any action from the school.

“As a result of this incident the boy is not at school and will not be returning to school until the police investigation has been resolved.”