Schoolboys at Dereham's Neatherd High School arrested over gun threat and knife

The two boys have been released under investigation

Two pupils were arrested after one was found carrying a knife and the other threatened to take a gun to school.

The two incidents happened at Neatherd High School in Dereham, Norfolk, on 13 and 23 November.

One of the boys was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, and the other over threats to kill. They have both been released under investigation, said police.

The school has been praised by parents for its "swift" response.

As first reported in the Eastern Daily Press, Neatherd High School's head teacher Peter Devonish sent a letter to parents assuring them their children were "safe".

In the letter, he said the first child was apprehended after a "brave witness" saw him carrying the kitchen knife.

He said the boy, who claimed he had it "for protection", was "no longer at Neatherd". He said no children were harmed.

The school has been praised for its "swift" response

In the second incident, he said the school was alerted by a parent that a teenager said on social media they would take a gun on to the school site.

He was arrested and searched by the police, but no weapon was found.

Mr Devonish said the boy was "not at the site".

The school's response to the incidents was praised on its Facebook site.

One parent said: "I'd just like say a huge well done on the way the school has responded and the actions they'd taken against the child who was caught with a knife and also the swift action against the child involved in the gun threat."

Another said: "Thank goodness the school and children are on the ball - well done to all concerned."