Two five-year-old girls were bound and blindfolded by teachers at a school in Thailand - as punishment for ripping paper in class, it has been claimed.

The two pupils were tied up in front of shocked classmates after angering their two female teachers in the Thai city of Surin. The students and teachers have not been publicly identified.

Pictures show how their hands were strapped together before paper was put over their eyes and fixed in place with blue tape.

The photos of the pair taken by a shocked third teacher were handed to parents of the girls earlier this week.

Two five-year-old girls were bound and blindfolded by female teachers at a school in Surin, Thailand for punishment for ripping paper during class, it has been claimed. After a father of one of the girls contacted the police, the two teachers were ordered to pay 40,000THB (£915) in compensation

The school, however, defended the teachers - with the headmaster saying it was a good way to teach them how to concentrate.

Meanwhile, the images have sparked outrage online.

After a father of one of the girls contacted police, the two teachers were ordered to pay 40,000THB (£915) in compensation and authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the school in Surin, Thailand.

The furious father said: 'The teacher who gave me the pictures told me that the other teachers had punished my daughter and friend by strapping their hands together then he blindfolded them.

'We think that another girl was hit but we don't have a picture of this. The children were just playing with the paper and they ripped it. The teachers said they had done something wrong and punished them like this.

'They said "close your eyes" and then they put white paper and blue Scotch tape to cover their eyes. Then another layer and bound their hands together.

'The teacher who found them said the girls were crying, trembling and sobbing terribly.'

He added: 'The teachers threatened them and both were frightened and did not know what else to do.'

A crisis meeting was held was held on Thursday and was attended by the headmaster, the parents, the two female teachers responsible and local police.

Each teacher agreed to pay 20,000THB (£457) in compensation and requested transfers to different schools.

Narong Meuanchart, the deputy education department chief in the province, said a committee had been set up to investigate the abuse and the pair could face further legal action.