Boys, six, in sexual assault claim

A Liverpool school has suspended two six-year-old boys after it was alleged that they sexually assaulted a girl pupil.

The local education authority said the primary school was following normal procedures for dealing with such a complaint.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said the allegations about the boys, who attend the school in a suburb of the city, had been made last week.

He added: "Allegations have been made against two pupils. The head teacher of the school has informed the education authority of the situation.

"Matters are being dealt with in accordance with normal procedures."

The girl is believed to be in the same school year as the two boys.

Letters were sent out by the head teacher of the school to the parents of the two boys last week and it is understood that they have been asked to keep the youngsters at home until Tuesday.

The letters said: "X was involved in sexually assaulting a girl. I regard this matter as a very serious breach of our school rules."