Education chiefs are investigating after a parent claimed he saw his son's female infant teacher fighting another woman at the Agricultural Show.

The worried father told The Royal Gazette that his five-year-old son had spotted his Francis Patton schoolteacher squaring up to another woman by the food stand on Friday afternoon.

The parent said: "She was provoking the other young lady verbally, calling her a bitch, using the F-word in front of school children.

"She's a public servant, I couldn't believe it. This is my son's teacher.

"The other girl was asking to be left alone. There were about a 100 witnesses."

The father said after a lot of provocation the other girl retaliated and a fight broke out. "There was slapping and scratching. When it was over a couple of the teacher's woman friends or family wanted to fight the other woman.

"Couldn't they see this woman was provoked? They were acting like kids saying things like `you mess with my family, you mess with me'.

"I had to take my son away, he's only five. It's bad enough that kids are fighting so what example is it that a school teacher is fighting? I don't want my child seeing a teacher fighting in public and thinking that's the only way to do things."

The caller, who wished to remain anonymous, said he would try to set up a parent/teachers association meeting about the event.

He said: "This girl should be suspended."

An Education department spokeswoman confirmed that there had been an anonymous complaint about the behaviour of a teacher at the Agricultural Show.

Chief education officer Dr. Joseph Christopher said: "The Ministry expected high standards of behaviour from all teaching staff.

"The matter is being investigating and there can be no further statement at this time."

Another eye witness told The Royal Gazette that she had seen one of the women crying and being comforted by Police after the incident and but Police have no record of the incident.