STALLS selling home-made cake have been banned by a Wiltshire school.

Parents at Crudwell C of E primary school, near Malmesbury, were amazed to be told in a newsletter that favourites like fairy cakes and Victoria sponges were no longer acceptable in case the school was sued over food poisoning.

Headteacher Lisa Tudor said the rule even applied to children bringing in birthday cake from home to share.

She said the decision only to accept shop-bought products was made after taking advice from Wiltshire County Council. It was backed by school governors.

"I'm sure many of you will join the school staff in the disappointment this causes but I trust you understand we are obliged to follow health and safety procedures," she wrote.

But county councillor for Malmes-bury John Thompson (Conservative) said: "It's preposterous. The world is full of people blowing each other up and we're worried about killer cream cakes."

Wiltshire County Council said the advice was only a guide and it was up to each school to decide what was appropriate. A council spokesman said the school was the only one so far in the county to ban all home-made produce.