CHIPPENHAM NEWS: CHILDREN have been banned from playing conkers at a Chippenham school over fears they could cause an allergic reaction.

Teachers at Ivy Lane Primary School have imposed a playground ban, because one of the pupils is allergic to nuts.

But medical experts have ridiculed the move saying a more 'common sense' approach to the traditional playground game is needed in schools.

Ivy Lane headteacher Chris Marshall said: "We have a pupil with a severe reaction to nuts.

"Conkers are related to nuts and are therefore completely banned from the school.

"We just don't want to take the risk. Children could touch the conkers and put their hands near their faces. Parents know the reasons for the decision and have accepted them."

Primary school teachers feared playing with horsechestnuts could cause an anaphylactic reaction.

Nut-related allergies can result in breathing problems and, in serious cases, death.

Hazel Gowland, food advisor at the Anaphylaxis Campaign, is a former headteacher and allergic to nuts herself.

She said: "In my view common sense is best. You tell children who play with conkers to put their conkers in a certain place after coming in from the playground and get them to wash their hands.

"In my view, common sense is best. I do not like bans for no reason but I understand schools coming to this decision because they are frightened."

Last week teachers in Cumbria supplied children with goggles to protect their eyes from flying conkers.