A TEENAGER was arrested after a machete and wooden cosh were found in his school bag.

Staff from Castle High School called police just before 3.30pm yesterday (Tuesday) as they believed a pupil had a weapon on the premises.

The 13-year-old boy refused to let teachers search his bag, but handed it over shortly before officers arrived at the St James's Road school.

The weapons were confiscated and the teenager was arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon.

He has been released from custody pending further investigation.

Headteacher Michelle King has praised the way staff dealt with the situation, describing them as "fantastic".

She said: "We were informed by another source and quickly approached the boy and conducted a search.”

Ms King said the boy had been excluded as the school has a “zero tolerance policy on weapons”, adding: “It's not acceptable. We will not tolerate anyone that brings a weapon into school, even if it's just to show people, possession is possession."