CHIPPENHAM NEWS EXCLUSIVE: CHILDREN have had their footballs taken away by teachers who fear they may get hurt during playground games.

A ban has been imposed on ball games at Abbeyfield Secondary School in Chippenham on advice from health and safety experts.

Teachers feared the school was open to legal action from parents after a number of children suffered minor injuries caused by playtime ball games.

The playground ban means youngsters can only use tennis balls and has been criticised by some parents and children's organisations as a step too far.

Issy Cole-Hamilton, of the Children's Play Council, said: "As an organisation we are extremely concerned about this issue of children being stopped from playing ball games for the fear of litigation from parents.

"Ball games are really good for children and at a time when we are all concerned about the health of our children it seems a shame to stop them.

"Generally we would encourage children to participate in ball games but nationally it seems there is an increasing fear from schools that parents could sue them for legal action if a child is injured in the playground."

The school first acted two weeks ago after children suffered a number of minor injuries caused by games involving full-sized footballs and rugby balls.

Now youngsters can only play at break and lunch times with balls below size three or tennis balls a standard football is classed as size five.

Parent Lisa Webb said: "It would make more sense to have a separate area to play full-size ball games. Because they are sitting down all day they should be given somewhere to burn all their energy off.

"It's a bit of a silly idea. I suppose the schools have to watch their backs but they should get something for parents to sign beforehand. Is football not a rough sport anyway wherever you play it?"

Letters were sent to all parents last week after the governors acted on advice from health and safety chiefs at Wiltshire County Council and agreed to impose a ban.

Parent Debbie Maid-ment said: "What is the world coming to if you can't play games in the playground without worrying about someone taking legal action, it seems like people are just jumping on the bandwagon nowadays."

Health and safety executives at Wiltshire County Council were unavailable for comment but a spokesman admitted the council does give advice to schools.

Earlier this year, the Abbeyfield School also placed a ban on parents smoking in their cars as dropped off children.

School governor Mike Lewis said: "I think banning ball games in the playground is a sensible idea.

"The trouble is these days everybody is looking for someone to blame so if you don't take due care with young people you have to face irate parents.

"All the children have double PE lessons so it is not as if we have banned all sports at the school."

Abbeyfield's headteacher, Trish Schubrook, was yesterday unavailable for comment.