BBC News: Friday, 19 November, 2004, 12:26 GMT

Pupils were left in tears after a teacher told them that an asteroid was about to hit Earth and kill them all.

The spoof announcement was designed to teach 14-year-olds the importance of seizing the day but backfired after they became visibly frightened.

Keith Hogan, head teacher at St Matthew's RC High School in Moston, Manchester, said he regretted any distress caused to the 230 pupils.

The head of year behind the assembly "stunt" later moved to reassure them.

He had told the year nine students that the asteroid was on a "collision course".

It is also believed that the students were told that they should go home and say "final farewells" to their families.

full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4025293.stm

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