A father has told of his shock after his daughter nearly had her hair set on fire in two separate incidents.

The first incident happened about three months ago when Sarah-Jayne Salmon was walking home from school.

Her father Andrew, of Norway Crescent, Dovercourt, said: "She felt something at the back of her head. As she turned she was confronted by a boy about her own age holding a lit cigarette lighter to the back of her head trying to set her hair on fire."

And last week a similar incident happened again.

Mr Salmon said: "On this occasion I believe the lighters were not actually lit before my daughter was aware of their presence, but nonetheless she was naturally petrified about the event.

"The question I must ask of society is why we are prepared to allow our children into thinking that it is all right to take such items as a cigarette lighter into school and not be punished accordingly."

Sarah-Jayne was not injured and it is thought the incidents were carried out by different youths.

Mr Salmon contacted The Harwich School, which Sarah-Jayne attends, and said the first matter was dealt with and the culprit's parents were contacted.

No-one at The Harwich School was available for comment as it is currently shut for Easter holidays.

Published Friday April 9, 2004

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