THE mother of teenage twin boys who left their Newport school after allegations one was bullied says they are being given a fresh start. Debbie Hill, 42, of Alway, stopped twin sons Bradley and Matt, 14, attending Lliswerry High School a month ago after Bradley was attacked with a lit cigarette.

Mrs Hill alleged this was the latest in a series of incidents involving her son, and said she would not let the boys go back until those responsible were excluded.

But now Mrs Hill says St Julian's School offered both boys a place and they were due to attend today.

Mrs Hill said she was relieved her sons would start full-time education again.

She said: "It will be a fresh start and hopefully they can put their troubles behind them."

Mrs Hill met solicitors on Monday to see if there were grounds to sue Lliswerry School.

"I have talked over legal action with the solicitor and I have not ruled it out," she said.

Mrs Hill said she had discussed her concerns with both the school and Newport city council, claiming she was originally offered just one hour of teaching for her children a week in an office at Lliswerry. She said that was not good enough.

Bradley was left with burns around his neck and stomach after the incident just outside school grounds.

The teenager wrote a letter to Lliswerry head teacher John Rawlings, pleading for him to crack down on the bullies. Mr Rawlings confirmed Bradley had been attacked and said it would not be tolerated.

But Mrs Hill claims her son was being hounded, with youngsters hitting him and calling him a "sweaty" because of his love for rock music and skateboarding.

Speaking on behalf of the school and LEA, a council spokesman said they were aware of the complaint and were satisfied the appropriate measures were in place to solve the problem.

Neither the council or the school would comment on the offer to the boys.