education bosses have launched an investigation after a Southampton schoolboy was rushed to hospital suffering from severe concussion after an incident at a city school.

Colin Jeffery, 16, was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital suffering from concussion and bruising to his head, chest, arms and neck after a lunchtime incident involving a number of other male youths at Weston Park Boys' School.

The former school prefect, with his right arm wrapped in a sling, was finally able to return home late last night with parents Jim, 47, and Julie, 46.

Now city council education chiefs have launched a probe into the events at the school.

Meanwhile, Colin's anxious father, Jim Jeffery, 47, said last night that his son would now only return to the school to sit his exams - with him sitting outside the room.

"I'm worried for my son's safety," he said. "Something has to be done to protect him. I want him to sit his exams and do well but I'm going to make sure he's not far away from me when he does.

"This can't happen again. My son has been picked on by bullies and is now lying on our sofa in an awful lot of pain. He is a good lad who is trying really hard to do well at school. He doesn't mean harm to anyone and does not deserve to end up in the state he's now in."

Mum-of-six Julie said: "My three sons have all gone to the school as it has a really good record of achievement. But they have got to do something to stop Colin and others like him ending up in hospital."

Weston Park Boys' School head teacher Eric Freeman said: "A pupil was taken to hospital with injuries and we are investigating the causes of those.

"The pupil has made allegations which we will be following up.

"Allegations have also been made by other pupils and things are at a very early stage at the moment."