A primary school had to cancel inviting parents to its Pride playground parade after some parents slammed the school's teachers for organising the event.

Heavers Farm Primary School had welcomed families to watch pupils in the parade and to celebrate 'the rainbow of things that make them and their family special'.

Some parents threatened to protest, saying they wanted to be the ones to teach their children about the matter.

The south London school scaled back the Pride event, having an assembly and a small parade on Friday morning, with parents only invited to come in the afternoon to learn about diversity and inclusion.

Heavers Farm Primary School had to cancel inviting parents to its Pride playground parade on Friday after some parents slammed the school's teachers for organising the event. Pictured: MP Steve Reed speaking to pupils at the event

MP Steve Reed spoke at the playground event and applauded the school for 'standing up for equality and diversity'

The south London school had planned for a celebratory parade on campus with families invited to witness 'the rainbow of things that make them and their family special'

Susan Papas, headteacher of the school in South Norwood, told the Evening Standard: 'Some parents have taken exception to this. They feel the school is shoving LGBT issues down the kids' throats. This takes us back decades.

'We thought we would celebrate Pride month so those children from LGBT families would feel included and to show the kids that children come from different families.

'But some parents aren't happy with the term LGBT and don't want their children knowing about these terms or what they mean.

'We have had so many messages of support from many parents who are quite cross about this minority who they feel are spreading hateful messages.'

Also speaking to the paper, mother Erica Chamberlain said she and her daughter Scarlett, five, were disappointed over the decision.

She said: 'She'd been really excited about it, and what she was going to wear to it, so we were really disappointed.'

'The very nature of a Pride parade is to be proud — not celebrate it quietly and non-publicly.'

But some parents insist they were right to want to protest, saying they wanted the chance to educate their children on such topics

Another parent added: 'The parade was about teaching the kids love has no label and celebrating love in all its forms.'

But some parents insist they were right to want to protest, saying they wanted the chance to educate their children on the topic.

One said: 'There were dozens of us who were upset and waited outside the school office to demand a meeting when we heard what was being taught.

'I want to be able to educate my child on these things, it's not just a matter of religion or our religious beliefs.'

Another mother added: 'A number of parents pulled their children out of the school for the parade entirely. They just didn't show up with their kids.'

Mother Jo Macfarlane tweeted in support of the school: 'Well done Heavers Farm for teaching kids about #Pride - it’s a multicoloured world and there’s space for us all. My daughter has embraced the theme with a rainbow skirt, sparkly headband and a superhero cape. So proud!'

MP Steve Reed spoke at the playground event, and later tweeted: 'With the wonderful staff and children at for their Pride celebration - very proud of them for standing up for equality and diversity. '

Mother Jo Macfarlane tweeted in support of the school: 'Well done Heavers Farm for teaching kids about #Pride - it’s a multicoloured world and there’s space for us all.

'My daughter has embraced the theme with a rainbow skirt, sparkly headband and a superhero cape. So proud!'