A YOUNGSTER with a life-threatening allergy has been forced to move schools because of his reaction to two classroom guinea pigs.

Harry Gray, six, is unable to lead a normal life because he has a severe allergic reaction to animal fur - finding it impossible to breath and unable to eat.

His parents, Alan, 29 and Sally, 34, of Headcorn, near Maidstone, say they had had their suspicions fur was to blame and their fears were confirmed earlier this month by Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Harry had attended Leeds and Broomfield Primary School for two years and teachers were aware that he had an allergy. Carpets in the family home were also ripped up in an attempt to ease the situation,.

But when Harry moved up a class last September, his condition worsened. "We told the teachers that we thought it might be the fur from the two class guinea pigs," said Mrs Gray. "We thought they might be to blame as Harry's symptoms were pretty constant."

Arrangements were made for class pets, Nibbles and Star, to be kept outside Harry's classroom at all times.

Mrs Gray said she was also told the two animals would be taken home from school at night but last week, when she contacted the school to relay the hospital's diagnosis, she said one teacher admitted the guinea pigs had been kept in her son's classroom overnight on some occasions. "I just sat there with tears in my eyes," said Mrs Gray. "My little child had been so ill and there right in front of me I had the reason why.

"They just didn't understand that he couldn't go anywhere near fur. They didn't realise how serious it was."

Mrs Gray has since moved Harry to Headcorn Primary School where plans have been made for his condition. Head teacher Jim Holditch has also promised to leave his black Labrador Ben - who normally escorts his master to school every day - at home.

In a statement, Janet Emmott, head teacher at Leeds and Broomfield, said that staff had been trained to cope with a child with an allergic reaction. She added: "When Mrs Gray expressed concerns that Harry might be allergic to fur, the school guinea pigs were immediately moved outside although they were brought back into Harry's classroom occasionally when it was cold."

She said that when the school was told Harry was allergic to fur, the guineapigs were immediately moved to the greenhouse and Mrs Gray was "assured" they would be found a new home away from the school.