A parent has been cautioned after admitting assaulting a teacher after a football match between teams from Dereham's two high schools.

Police said the 48-year-old man was issued with a caution – which is a formal warning – after the incident at Northgate High School and the investigation is over.

The man was a parent of a Neatherd school pupil, and the 29-year-old teacher was from Northgate and suffered minor facial injuries on September 16.

The teacher was not the match referee, contrary to a report in the Times last week.

In a joint statement, Northgate and Neatherd headteachers Alex Reed and Peter Devonish said: 'It is always disappointing to read negative press about our community and, in this case, about an incident involving adults at a football match between our two schools.

'It is regrettable that the police were called to deal with this. In many years of local derbies this is the first time there has been an issue and we have no doubt that this incident will not be repeated.

'The action of the parent is not condoned and has been dealt with in liaison with both headteachers.

'The matter is now closed and the police are no longer involved.

'To reiterate, the two schools work extremely well together and are not rivals. The recent Ofsted interim assessment judged both schools to be good.

'We have high calibre staff, fantastic students and are very proud to continue to serve the Dereham community.'