TWO HAMPSHIRE schools have banned parents from video recording their children's nativity plays - for fear of paedophiles getting hold of the images.

The first the children's relatives knew of the policy at Shakespeare Infant School, Eastleigh, and Cupernham Infant School, Romsey, was when they arrived to see their young ones take to the stage.

They were told by the head teachers that they should not to use video recorders.

Shakespeare Infant School in Eastleigh introduced the ban because it said it cannot be sure of who will get hold of the pictures.

Head teacher Jane Skinner said: "It is a modern world we live in. We thought it was right to be cautious."

She added: "The worst case scenario is that somebody would use that image in an improper way."

Mrs Skinner told the children's relatives of the new policy before the performances started on Monday, Tuesday and Friday last week.

She asked that parents not use video cameras or digital cameras, but she did not confiscate the equipment.

Yesterday she said: "Obviously we had a couple of people who were a bit disappointed but on the whole they were understanding."

Parents were allowed to take photographs of their own children in costume after the performance. Mrs Skinner said that she made the decision in the interests of her 235 pupils, aged between four and seven.

Video bans are becoming increasingly common in primary schools across the country - Edinburgh and Luton recently hit the headlines for similar policies.

The Shakespeare school decision does not run Hampshire-wide.

Mrs Skinner said the county council recently told all primary schools heads they could make their own decisions on video recording pupils' plays.

Staff at Shakespeare Infant School videoed the three Christmas plays and will loan the video to parents for free.

Mrs Skinner said she would be reviewing the ban for next year and is considering introducing a ticket-only policy so the school would know exactly who attends any school play.

Meanwhile, the head of Cupernham, Hilary Evans, has defended her decision to ban videos at the performance at the 203-pupil school in Infant School in Bransley Close, Woodley Lane.

She said: "One likes to think that the parents and most people are honourable and true but unfortunately in society there are a few who have dishonourable intentions and we have no way of knowing who those people might be."

Parent Richard Buss was told to put his video camera away at a performance of Cupernham's Christmas play, The Bossy King, on Monday.

He said: "The children are only small once and we've got grandparents who live overseas and some of my family live in America. This is one way of them being able to stay in contact with their relations. Now that's gone."

You may not be allowed to video the youngsters, but to see pictures of the full cast at the schools' Christmas performances see our 24-page nativity special free inside today's Daily Echo.