Police were called to Dartmouth Academy after a 13-year-old pupil brought a live shotgun cartridge into school.

The pupil was spotted with the cartridge by a learning support assistant.

She confiscated the cartridge and notified academy principal Nick Hindmarsh who then contacted the police.

Mr Hindmarsh said: 'Clearly this is something that we take very seriously.

'It has been made very clear to the boy and his peers that it could seriously affect their future should there be a repetition.'

The boy was excluded from school for five days following the incident, Mr Hindmarsh added.

A police spokesman said the boy had been questioned about how he had obtained the cartridge. He added: 'It would have taken a bit of work to make it go off. A vice, a hammer and a chisel would have done it, which is all there at the school.

'The school has been excellent in contacting us immediately and has co-operated as much as it possibly could.'

Mr Hindmarsh said the boy had explained how he had found the cartridge while out riding his bike with friends.