BOYS at Skipton Ermysted's Grammar School - and some parents - have been in revolt following a ball game ban by the headteacher.

It was sparked when Michael Evans - he took up the top job last September - announced the prohibition during the last week of term following reports that boys were taking footballs from each other.

The ban applied to ball games taking place during break times and the lunch hour not organised games and training sessions and remained in effect until close of school last Friday.

The Craven Herald understands that later boys took to playing with tennis balls in the tennis courts, some produced a frisbee and others organised a tug-of-war.

Parent, Philip Dunn of Salterforth, described the measure as "draconian" and said it should have been better handled especially when pupils were coming up to GCSEs and A-levels.

"The boys have raised a valid protest. According to my son who has looked it up, the school charter says boys have the right to protest and bring issues like this to the school council."

Parent, Carolyn Jackson-Smith, of Burnley, who has two boys at the school, said: "Schools should be promoting any physical activity they can.

"You stop the boys playing football, they just take to hitting each other or using school bags as battering rams on each other or playing football with rocks.

"Nicky Morgan the previous education secretary specifically advised that schools should not be banning balls sports and such bans have been overturned in the US and here as they fly in the face of the war on obesity.

In a letter to parents Mr Evans said the ban would stay in effect until the end of term and the reason had been explained to students.

The ban came into effect to highlight how seriously the issues were being taken and after a number of instances of boys taking footballs of other students during break times.

Several attempts had been made to dissuade boys and warnings given by staff.

"Students have been spoken to by tutors, heads-of-year and by me to explain the rationale," he aid.