Police are investigating a complaint that a ten-year-old Bradford boy was sexually attacked by one of his classmates on a residential school trip.

The victim’s father told the Telegraph & Argus that police were called to Ingleborough Hall Outdoor Education Centre in Clapham, North Yorkshire, while his son was on a five-day visit with other Year Six children from a Bradford primary school.

The boy, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, was barricaded inside a dormitory with three other boys when the perpetrator, a fifth boy, obstructed a door with suitcases, according to his father.

The parent, who also cannot be identified, said the group of boys had been playing a game before the offending pupil committed the sex attack.

The victim’s father said his son, who has returned to school following the incident, has been reluctant to talk to him about the ordeal, although he has confided in his mother.

He said: “He’s worried about the lad coming back into school. He hasn’t talked to me about it. I’m finding it hard to deal with.

“I’m sure he’ll open up to me in time but I’m worried about the lasting effects it might have.

“He’s taking his Sats exams this year so I don’t want to take him out of school. We’re trying to keep him occupied at home, like encouraging him to play football.”

He said police have interviewed his son and were due to quiz the boy at the centre of the allegations.

Ingleborough Hall is owned by Bradford Council and has provided residential outdoor experiences to school children and students for more than 30 years.

A Council spokesman said it was inappropriate to comment at this stage of the police inquiry.

But the victim’s father said he is angry that the alleged offence had been allowed to happen and he is critical of the way the school handled the situation.

He said: “It happened on a Wednesday, a teacher reported it to the head teacher who got there later that day but the head teacher didn’t call the police until the next day.

“The first I knew about it was when the school called and said ‘come up here there’s been an incident, a serious case of bullying that’s got out of hand’.

“By the time we got there the other pupil had gone and they wouldn’t let us see our son because he and the other boys didn’t seem to have been influenced by what had happened and they didn’t want to disturb them.

“We were told there wasn’t much to be concerned about.

“He came home and told my wife what happened.

“The boy shouldn’t be allowed back into school until the police have dealt with him.”

When asked to comment about the allegation, which was reported to the police last month, the head teacher of the school, said: “I can confirm that there has been a reported incident which the police are now investigating. As the matter is in the hands of the police, the school is unable to comment further.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police have been made aware of an incident in North Yorkshire last month and are investigating the matter.

“The families of relevant children involved, who are from the Airedale and Bradford area, have been made aware as have key partners.”