An investigation is being carried out at a Baildon primary school into a complaint that a teacher hit a pupil.

It is understood a teacher was sent home after a complaint that a year six boy was struck.

A spokesman for Hoyle Court Primary School said: "An incident has happened in school which we are investigating."

Letters are also being issued to parents, said the spokesman.

It is also understood the school has had to employ a supply teacher temporarily.

Phillip Shackleton, Bradford branch secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said he was unaware of the situation at the school, but he said an official complaint must have been made to the school to prompt the inquiry.

He said it was unlikely the police were involved as their investigation would take precedence over a school probe.

He said: "Quite simply, this shouldn't happen for whatever reason.

"We are only human and these things happen from time to time, rarely, but they do happen.

"It is impossible to make a comment about this particular situation. All the issues have to be looked at, but at the end of the day striking a pupil is wrong."

Mr Shackleton agreed there were grey areas with teachers disciplining pupils, especially with a Government which suggests teachers should "positively" handle pupils by, for example, standing in the way of secondary school pupils who wish to leave the school grounds without authorisation.

He said: "Our advice is not to do this. It is time the Government came clean on this issue and society needs to make their minds up on what they want school teachers to do about discipline."

He said the letters had probably been sent out to reassure parents and that the investigation could take up to two weeks.