An attempt by a courier to collect exam papers from a school in Thetford was down to a booking error, an exam board has confirmed.

Thetford Academy executive principal Adrian Ball issued a warning to other headteachers on Friday after a courier visited the school on Thursday and asked for its exam papers.

According to Mr Ball, the courier knew the academy's exams officer's name, and the codes of the papers.

But any sinister intentions were dispelled today by couriers Citysprint, who admitted the incident was down to a booking error.

A spokesman for exam board AQA, who had issued the papers, said the firm had confirmed the error.

'We investigated after the academy got in touch with us and spoke to Citysprint who put their hands up and admitted the mistake.

'We are grateful to the school for raising the alarm as they did, they did absolutely the right thing,' he said.

A spokesman for Citysprint said: 'We are aware of an incident in Norfolk where, due to human error, one of our couriers attempted to collect exam papers ahead of the scheduled pick-up date. This was down to a booking error and we have made a full apology.'