STUDENTS have rebuffed claims they goaded a boy who was cutting himself with a knife in a river.

Police were called after a boy was self-harming under a bridge while students from Bromfords School, in Wickford, watched.

Deputy headteacher John Edwards apologised for the actions of a “small number of students” but said others helped.

Paris Cross, 14, said: “He was showing all the Year Eight students his arms and some of them were laughing. I think it was more of an uncomfortable or nervous laughter. I wanted to go down and help him so I went down to where he was and he had a pocket knife and some bits of glass.

“I told him to throw them in the river and that’s when two older ladies came over. Some of the other students did get up in their face.”

She added: “Most of the students there were helping me to get him help. We called the police and made sure he was okay.”

Mr Edwards said: “Having spoken to the students who supported the young person, I am proud that those directly involved did the right thing to prevent self-harm.”