A dad is refusing to allow his son to return to school after claiming the 16-year-old was filmed in a so called 'happy slapping' attack.

Stephen McLaughlin said his son Michael suffered a black eye after he was attacked by fellow pupils at St Bede's Grammar School in Heaton.

Mr McLaughlin, 43, later learned the incident had been filmed on a mobile phone.

He was shocked to discover the school, which is investigating the incident, was also aware of the footage but had failed to inform him.

Now he is keeping Michael, who suffers from epilepsy, off school because he claims the school cannot guarantee his safety.

Mr McLaughlin said: "Michael was confronted by some lads who went face to face with him.

"His eye was a mess. The school contacted my wife and said he had been in a fight and asked her to go and collect him."

Mr McLaughlin, of Southfield Road, Bingley, later heard that mobile phone images were being circulated among pupils.

"I am really disappointed with the school," he said. "I am disappointed they did not inform my wife and I that this was being passed around the school.

"I am not sending him back to school because I feel his safety cannot be guaranteed.

"It's not just pressure on Michael. While he is sat at home on his own he could have a fit and there will be no-one there. My wife and I cannot take time off work because we have used all our holidays."

Head teacher Paul Martin said an investigation into the incident was under way.

He said: "We are continuing with an investigation which is not complete yet. It would be wrong to assume which parties involved in the incident instigated the videoing.

"Normally we would have contacted the parents if we were aware there was such footage but the footage did not come to our attention until after the incident."