LASERS, fake blood, and nitrous oxide cylinders were just some of the items confiscated from learners and school pupils in Newport over the last five years, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The Argus contacted 54 education providers in Newport, including primary schools, secondary schools, nurseries and the university, to find out the sort of things taken off pupils since June 2011.

Caerleon Comprehensive School confirmed that 759 items had been confiscated from pupils in the last five years, including more than 600 mobile phones.

Other deemed contraband seized by school staff included a Swiss army knife, a slinky, cigarettes, a dice, iPods, a guitar, cardigans, a screw driver, doughnuts and a bracelet.

Elsewhere, a spokeswoman for St Julians School said the school only had records for the last two years and that in that time, 340 mobile phones had been taken off pupils.

The only items confiscated from university students at the University of South Wales’ Caerleon campus were said to have been some nitrous oxide cylinders, while nothing was taken off students at the Newport campus.

A USW spokeswoman said: “The safety and comfort of our students and staff is paramount. Any items that could pose a risk are confiscated in accordance with the university’s procedures.”

The following schools replied to the Argus' freedom of information request, but revealed they did not confiscate anything or did not record the data:

Kimberley Nursery School, Maesglas Primary, Duffryn Junior School, Malpas Park Primary, FairOak Nursery, Marshfield Primary School, Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael, Gaer Primary, Rogerstone Primary, Malpas Church in Wales Infant School, Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary School, Ringland Primary, Pillgwenlly Primary, St Woolos Primary, Clytha Primary, Llanwern High, St Joseph’s High School, St David’s Primary and Malpas Church Juniors.

A spokeswoman for Duffryn Junior School said: “We only ask children to hand in their mobile phones at the start of the day so that they do not disturb the learning.“

A spokeswoman for St Joseph’s High School said: “If an item was temporarily confiscated from a pupil it would be held in the school safe in an envelope marked with the pupils name and the parent would be contacted by phone to collect the item the following day.”

A spokeswoman for St Woolos Primary said: “Items confiscated, such as chewing gum, are returned at the end of the day, usually to the parent.”

A spokeswoman for Bassaleg School said: “The only confiscated items in school have been mobile phones which are returned to parents at the end of the school day.”

A spokeswoman for FairOak Nursery said: “All children are brought to school by a responsible adult as they are only three or four years old and therefore do not bring inappropriate items.”