Devon's schools have the highest number of cases of pupils physically or verbally abusing adults in the south west, according to the Department of Education.

Figures show there were more than 2,200 cases where students were excluded as a result between 2009 and 2010.

In Plymouth, there were 461 cases.

New advice on the use of reasonable force was published yesterday but GMB Union officials in the region say that advice approaches the problem in the wrong way.

They say schools should try to stop assaults rather than allowing adults to use force against pupils.