PUPILS at Dauntsey's School, near Devizes, were shocked to be told to take off white wristbands showing solidarity with the poor nations of the world because they are not part of the school uniform.

But the independent school has now said it was a misunderstanding and has given its blessing to pupils who want to support the work of the movement Make Poverty History.

Lower sixth former student Rob Willens, from Etchilhampton, near Devizes, said: "About 30 or 40 of us started wearing the bands soon after the news of the tsunami disaster came out.

"When we came back to school after the Christmas break we continued to wear them and we couldn't believe it when we were told to take them off."

But the wrist bands were given the school's mark of approval when chaplain the Rev David Johnson addressed the school yesterday morning about the benefits of the movement, which is a coalition of 159 charities, and how important it was to support its work.

Headmaster Stewart Roberts said: "We really are very relaxed about this kind of thing. It is excellent that our pupils show their sympathy with other people in the world less fortunate than themselves.

"It may be that some of my colleagues took it upon themselves to enforce our uniform code so strictly."