Bad behaviour is killing practical science lessons.

Badly behaved pupils are forcing many schools to abandon practical science lessons because of the risk of accidents, a survey has shown.

The report by Save British Science showed that practical science lessons had been cancelled at three-quarters of secondary schools, with 57pc citing the misuse of Bunsen burners and dangerous chemicals as the reason.

The survey's findings have led one leading chemist to issue a warning about the damage being done to children's science education.

Avoiding practicals was also undermining efforts to get more youngsters interested in science, said Dr Simon Campbell, president-elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

He said: "Fewer kids are having practical classes, largely because of poor discipline.

"Teachers are worried about pupils misbehaving.

"If there is a lack of discipline in the lab, it makes teachers feel very vulnerable.

"They're going to get the blame if something happens, and they're afraid of litigation.

"You don't have the same safety issues with a classroom-based subject, like French for example."

Save British Science, which campaigns for more support for science, questioned heads of science at a range of schools earlier this year.

SBS director Dr Peter Cotgreave, said: "We were astonished that the main reason for cancelling practical classes was behavioural problems.

"To be honest, we expected complaints about equipment and lack of staff. But the single biggest thing we encountered was that naughty kids couldn't be trusted with gas taps and acid.

"Often it was an unruly minority who were to blame, which is unfair on the others."