THE headteacher of a school in Craven has been criticised for banning pupils from taking part in Red Nose Day activities.

Children at Burnsall Primary School did not hold any activities for Comic Relief and were told not to bring in their red noses.

But headteacher Sheila Bloomfield said the school had taken part in several charity fundraisers and thought it was unfair to ask parents for more money.

Karen Longthorne, whose 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, goes to the school, claimed the children were told by Miss Bloomfield that they would not be doing anything for the charity.

Mrs Longthorne, from Hebden, said many of the youngsters were disappointed.

She said she had been told by a couple of children that Miss Bloomfield had said they would not be doing anything for Comic Relief because she did not believe in the charity.

Miss Bloomfield denied she had said that.

Mrs Longthorne said she could appreciate Miss Bloomfield not wanting to ask parents for donations as the school has been raising money throughout the year for Children with Leukaemia.

But as a parent she would not have minded if the school had arranged something for Comic Relief because it was one day every two years when children could be wacky in their fundraising efforts.

She said that her daughter was disappointed at not being able to do anything, particularly when she saw her brother, who goes to Ermysted's in Skipton, spraying his hair red for the day.

But Miss Bloomfield told the Herald: "We have to be practical with our school."

She did not think the school should be asking parents for yet more money because pupils had been taking part in an ongoing marathon fundraiser for Children with Leukaemia as well as raising money for Kenyans at Christmas.

Miss Bloomfield said she had encouraged youngsters to take part in Red Nose Day fundraisers outside of school and that pupils had raised funds for Comic Relief in previous years.