Pupils fled from a man they feared had a gun as he intervened in a school fight. Students from The Radclyffe School and Newman RC College in Chadderton, Oldham, clashed 'in high jinx' last Thursday as both sets of Year 11 leavers unusually departed at the same time.
It is understood that a number had met up for an egg, flour and water fight, which has become somewhat of a tradition for those finishing secondary. But while pupils from both schools were caught up in the anti-social behaviour, a member of the public decided to intervene.
Video footage shared on social media appeared to show the man get out of a car and approach the group of young people who had gathered near Freehold tram stop. He can be seen talking to the students before holding one of their bikes in the air.
He is thought to have hit a child with the bike and was later punched by a pupil from behind. The man is then shown on a video making his way back over to the car to get something - which pupils feared was a gun - from the boot of his car.
Further footage showed the same man attacking a boy with a bike helmet after making his way up to the tram platform.
Glyn Potts, head of Newman RC College, on Broadway, said the videos show that pupils from a number of schools were involved in the public disturbance and he had identified pupils from his school who were there. He has publicly acknowledged that students from Newman were present and were involved.
"They have seen an opportunity to be silly and these things with eggs and flour and what not do occur," he said.
"Should the kids be in trouble? Absolutely. They need to be held accountable and they know that when they are out in the community they are representing our school, but they weren't all from Newman and were not the entire issue."
When the man went to get something from his boot and ran back over to the pupils, with what one of them described as looking like an air rifle, a member of staff from Newman rang 999. The man is said to have made threats about having a gun.
By the time police arrived Mr Potts said the crowd had dispersed.
"I have spoken to the man involved and am committed to supporting the police in this matter,” he said.
Police have confirmed there was no weapon or firearm involved.
A spokesperson for GMP said: "Officers are currently working with the school following the incident and conducting enquiries."
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