PARENTS have been banned from filming their children's Christmas nativity play in Romsey - for fear of paedophiles getting hold of the images.

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

School head Hilary Evans today defended her decision to ban video filming of the performance at the 203-pupil school in 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.

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."

A similar decision has been implemented at Shakespeare Infant School in Eastleigh.

Shakespeare school introduced the ban because it said it could not be sure of who will get hold of the pictures.

Head teacher Jane Skinner said: "We thought it was right to be cautious.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.

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

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

Parents were allowed to take photographs of their own children in costume after the performance.

Mrs Skinner explained 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.

Mrs Skinner said Hampshire County Council recently told all primary schools heads they can make their own decisions on video recording pupils' plays.

Staff at Shakespeare Infant School themselves video recorded 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.

You may not be allowed 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.