A man is refusing to send his sons back to school following taunts and bullying.

Billy Cook, 15, who is dyslexic, required stitches to an eye wound after being hit over the head with a plastic sign.

Seaford Head Community College said it had expelled the pupil involved.

Billy claims he was picked on because his father Geoff Cook lives and works as a gamekeeper on farmland at Piddinghoe.

He said: "They call me names such as pheasant and say I have got foot-and-mouth disease."

Billy said he did not want to return to the school. His father has also taken his younger brother Daniel, 13, away.

Mr Cook, 41, is currently in talks with head teacher Robin Precey and education officials about the future of his sons' education.

He said: "They pick on Billy because he is dyslexic. They also taunt him because he lives on a farm.

"Daniel is a different kettle of fish. He can stand up for himself and he also stands up for Billy, but while my eldest son is in danger by going to school, I will be keeping them both away.

"Billy should not have to put up with this. He wants to get on in life and has been doing well at the school apart from the bullying.

"I know kids get taunted but Billy has had to put up with too much. I have just had enough and I want him to go to another school."

The incident with the sign happened on Monday. An ambulance was called to the school in Seaford and Billy was taken to Eastbourne General Hospital where he had four stitches to an eye wound.

Mr Cook said: "Any parent would take the action I have.

"Receiving a telephone call saying my son had been taken to hospital because he had been attacked at school was the last straw."

Mr Precey said: "There are a lot of factual errors in the allegations made by Mr Cook. Anybody who visits will see it is a well-run school with no discipline problems.

"I can confirm an incident took place on Monday involving Billy where he was hit with a plastic sign. We have a clear behaviour policy and if there is an incident we deal with it very severely.

"We have taken the strongest possible action possible against the other pupil.

"This is the first I have heard about Billy being taunted because he is a gamekeeper's son.

"He and Daniel are making good progress at the school and I am arranging talks with Mr Cook and the education welfare officer regarding their return."

A spokesman for Seaford police said: "An officer has been assigned to carry out an investigation."