In the last motion at the annual conference of the Professional Association of Teachers in Southport, delegates headed off for the silly season after backing a suggestion to train dogs to become classroom assistants.

Rounding up stray children, intervening in playground fights, finding lost gym shoes, licking up dropped crisps and identifying children who had wet themselves were among the ways in which delegates argued that dogs could assist in primary schools.

Wendy Dyble, a primary school teacher from Shetland, received the backing of conference - 16 votes to 13 with most delegates abstaining - for her proposal for canine classroom assistants.

"If you have a group of five year olds walking along in a crocodile, the teacher has to be at the front leading the group. A dog would come in useful running up and down, keeping them in order.

"A big dog would also be helpful for breaking up fights and looking for lost property," Ms Dybe advised the conference.