Education chiefs told a 16-year-old boy he would be sacked from his Saturday job in a butcher's shop - unless he quit his school studies.

Ben Batters, pictured, was informed he was breaking the law by working as an assistant at Ferris Butchers in Ben Rhydding, near Ilkley, at weekends.

Education Bradford is enforcing a bylaw drawn up by the Department of Health outlawing under-18s from certain jobs while still in full-time education.

But shop owner Steve Furniss claims there was never a problem with Ben until a chance inquiry to Education Bradford about whether he needed a work permit.

Three months after he wrote to the authority, he was sent a letter saying he must sack Ben - or face legal action.

Mr Furniss has run the family business for 16 years and has employed five youngsters of Ben's age. He branded Education Bradford's handling of the situation "ridiculous".

And he said he was aware of scores of other boys working in butcher's shops around the district.

"They wrote back to us and said if we didn't sack him then they would prosecute us," he said.

"Ben is 16 years old and a very capable young man who could do all sorts of jobs.

"We really didn't want to sack him and couldn't see any reason why we should.

"I have been penalised for doing the right thing."

Ben, who attends Ilkley Grammar School, said he was shocked when he was told he faced the sack.

"It came as a bit of a surprise," he said. "Luckily Steve and his wife Carol have been really good and helped me through it. I wanted to stay because I like the atmosphere and it's something I enjoy. I might consider it as a career, but at the moment I want to get an education behind me."

Mr Furniss had planned to battle the ruling in the courts, but backed down after Education Bradford granted a permit for Ben to do certain tasks such as serving and washing up.

"Ben is only allowed to do work in the shop part of the premises and we had to move any equipment which they think might be dangerous," he said.

Graham Bidston, chief executive of the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, said he was only aware of three local education authorities - including Bradford - which have acted upon the bylaw. He said the legislation - which is designed to protect young people from working in dangerous environments - stated that each shop should be looked at individually rather than a blanket ban imposed.

"It is very upsetting to get a letter like this telling you that you must sack a young worker," he said.

No one at Education Bradford was available for comment.