A POTENTIALLY lethal Stanley knife was discovered in a first school playground in Poole yesterday.

The knife, with its blade exposed, was left precariously balanced on railings just yards from where young children were playing.

Investigations revealed the knife could have been left behind by contractors carrying out work at Old Town First School over the weekend.

Old Town head teacher Maria Vinney said she was relieved no children had been injured, while installation firm Inside2Outside said it would be carrying out an urgent investigation.

John Hicks, 28, made the find as he picked up his four-year-old from the play area.

“It is beyond belief,” said the father-of-two, from nearby Lagland Court.

“It is scary to think what could have happened if one of the children had picked it up.

“I’m sure it was an honest mistake but it could have cost a child their fingers.”

Mr Hicks said he picked up the knife and took it into the school office.

Mrs Vinney said the school was having new shelters installed in its garden by Inside2Outside.

She said a formal complaint had now been registered with company over the incident.

“We have explained that we are very unhappy,” she said.

“The children’s safety is our first priority and the important thing is none of them were hurt.”

Dr Robert Carpenter, managing director of Inside2Outside, said they performed rigorous site checks after each working day to remove any potential hazards.

He said: “Stanley knives are not something we routinely use during installation of our school canopies.

“But if the knife was there while our team was performing their post-installation safety checks, it should have been found and reported. This report is being given the importance that it deserves and we are holding a debriefing with those involved tomorrow.”