A schoolboy has been "punished" by his school after being bullied by fellow students - for being ginger, his mother has claimed.

Emma Walsh says her son Tyler has been told he should be taught in isolation after being persecuted by classmates for the colour of his hair.

Tyler Walsh was subjected to merciless victimisation by older pupils at his school who chased him into a toilet cubicle and attacked him in the street, his mother said.

The 12-year-old, who attends Yate International Academy in Bristol, has been targeted by bullies since he started school 18 months ago because of his hair colour and eagerness to learn, the Bristol Evening Post reported.

Tyler's mother is now refusing to let her son, who is "extremely distressed", return to school because of the academy's reaction to the incidents.

The academy have allegedly also refused to give him homework because staff felt this would be condoning his absence.

"It is like they are punishing him," she said.

She also added the academy had failed to acknowledge the reasons why Tyler had been bullied.

"Yate International Academy has punished one boy, when a whole group were involved. A day off school is hardly a punishment for what my child has had to endure. I think it is absolutely disgusting."

Huffington Post UK has attempted to contact the school but has not yet received a comment.

The Year 8 pupil is now being tutored by his mother at home.

In October, it emerged police had launched an investigation after schoolchildren arranged a "slap a ginger day".

Calculating bullies at Hove Park School in Hove, East Sussex, targeted the 13-year-old boy in humiliating scenes, just because of the colour of his hair.