Ref. 72594-08THE ringleader of a rebellion against a school ban on kissing and cuddling has spoken about the protest which got him suspended.

Rebel student Damien Hawkins, 15, organised the mass walkout at Warneford School, in Highworth.

About 200 youngsters took part in one-and-a-half hours of mayhem, during which they shouted "we want canoodling" while embracing each other in group hugs.

The protest was sparked after teachers launched a crackdown on affectionate behaviour, including kissing, holding hands and hugging.

Damien and his sister Shuanna 13, were among a hardcore of eight protesters who refused to comply with orders to return to classes.

They were all suspended for a week by headteacher John Saunders, who says the ruling is needed to maintain discipline.

But Damien, of Queen's Avenue, Highworth, says he plans to defy the ban when he returns to school.

"I will carry on hugging and kissing my friends because the teachers are wrong," he said.

"In a couple of months I will be 16 and legally able to get married, which is why this ban is so daft.

"The teachers justify it by saying canoodling is not acceptable in the workplace.

"But we are teenagers and are at an age when we are starting to become emotional, so it is important for us to be affectionate to each other. The protest showed the strength of feeling against this.

"I think it is good to hug people, and the teachers are being really uptight.

"I have never been suspended before but I don't regret this because you have to stand up for what's right."

Damien who is spending his week working for his uncle's plumbing firm says he used to get told off for kissing and hugging his ex-girlfriend.

Damien's mother Teresa Malone, is backing her children.

"As long as their work is not affected, I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to hug," said the care worker,

She is due to meet Mr Saunders today to discuss the suspensions.

"It's an invasion of their privacy, and teenagers are more open nowadays," she said.

"The trouble is, the opinion of pupils doesn't seem to count."

The 900-pupil school is one of the best performing in the area. Mr Saunders declined to comment further but on Tuesday he said: "These are not new rules, they have always existed.We felt we needed to remind pupils. We are sensitive and whether something is inappropriate or not is a matter of judgement."

Tamash Lal