The school's head teacher Karen McCarter said due to 'modern society' she couldn't 'take the risk' of giving children something they might be allergic to

Primary school children have been banned from bringing in cake to celebrate their birthdays as teachers are too busy to check for allergies.

Sugary treats brought in by pupils will be sent home uneaten by Norbreck Primary Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, because teachers don't have the time to check whether they are suitable for all youngsters to eat.

The school's head teacher Karen McCarter said she 'hates to be a killjoy' but due to 'modern society' couldn't take the risk of giving children something they might be allergic to.

Mrs McCarter said: 'As we are not able to account for the ingredients, we could unknowingly give a product to a child which they are allergic to.

'Even if we had a list of ingredients, in a busy school day it is too much to expect teachers to read it and decide who can and cannot eat the product.

'Sharing cake for a birthday is a lovely thing to do. However, all children are made to feel special when it's their birthday and the teachers ensure all birthdays are remembered and celebrated.

'Cake is something to share outside of school with family or with friends at a party.'

Mrs McCarter also said that ten of the school's approximate 610 pupils who suffered from allegies were feeling 'left out' and said it was impossible to tell if kitchens at home were hygienic, adding it also went against the school's healthy eating initiatives.

She said the decision to ban the treats from classrooms came after seeing teachers struggle to slice cakes big enough for a class of 30, as well as clean up the mess left behind.

The school said pupils bringing cakes to share with classmates had become a recent phenomenon, but was disrupting an already busy school schedule due to it becoming an increasingly popular ritual.

However parents slammed the school, saying the measures were 'over the top' despite Mrs McCarter being backed by councillors.

Nicola Mealor, who is mum to seven-year-old Tyler Wallace, said: 'It's a bit over the top. Usually I send Tyler in with a cake on his birthday but they always said it shouldn't have nuts in. I didn't know about this but it's a bit sad.'

Another parent, who didn't wish to be named, said: 'Some things you just think, "Really?"

Norbreck Primary Academy, in Blackpool, Lancashire, has about 610 pupils on its roll, ten of which are children with allergies

'If children are at school on their birthday they should be able to take a cake in to share it, but then again some people see this as a good thing.

'Each to their own.'

The school had previously banned glass bottles, aluminium cans and cash, but Mrs McCarter denied being over protective of the children.

She said: 'We are not a school which makes decisions that over-protect children, we are a school which makes sensible decisions to keep children safe.

'I am certain parents would not want their children to attend a school where glass bottles and cans are on site. Children don't bring money because they don't need it.'

Mayor of Blackpool Peter Callow said: 'I'm sure there will be people in the town who will think it's over-cautious, but the teachers are the people on the front line and the decision is theirs.'

The school said the decision to ban the treats from classrooms came after teachers struggled to slice cakes big enough for a class of 30, as well as clean up the mess left behind

The Food Standards Agency said while there was no legal requirement for cake being brought by pupils into class to display allergen ingredients, it was 'good practice to do so'

Councillor Tony Williams said: 'To be left out because you are allergic is a little bit cruel.

'I understand why the school is doing this because it's very difficult to take cake to school to share and not leave children feeling left out.

'I have never known it to be a problem anywhere else but if the school has children who are allergic then it's common sense.'

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said while there was no legal requirement for cake being brought by pupils into class to display allergen ingredients, it was 'good practice to do so'.