A Muslim primary school pupil has been investigated by police after mistakenly writing that he lived in a “terrorist house” during an English lesson.

The 10-year-old was interviewed by officers and the family laptop was apparently examined. He had meant to say he lived in a “terraced house”.

The family, who live in Lancashire, have demanded apologies from both the police and the school following the incident on December 7, the BBC reported.

“You can imagine it happening to a 30-year-old man, but not to a young child,” said a cousin of the child, who has not been named to protect the identity of the boy.

“If the teacher had any concerns it should have been about his spelling.

“They shouldn’t be putting a child through this.

“He’s now scared of writing, using his imagination.”

Teachers who suspect extremist behaviour have been legally obliged to report it since last July, when the 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act came into force.

It places a statutory duty on schools and colleges to prevent people being drawn into terrorism, but critics say some teachers are over-reacting.