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A primary school has banned the floss dance featured in popular video game Fortnite - after teachers said pupils are using it to intimidate classmates.

Parents have branded the ban "ridiculous" after headteacher Catherine Cox described the game as "violent" and "addictive" in a letter.

Ms Cox, head of Ilfracombe Junior School in Devon, said: "We want our school to be one in which human beings treat each other with kindness and appreciation.

"Fortnite is for 12 years plus. Fortnite is about mass killing of other human beings and being awarded by a dance of celebration if you are successful.

(Image: ITV)

"One of these dances is called the Nazi dance!

"Fortnite is extremely addictive and playing violent games is associated with real life aggressive behaviour and mental health issues.

"Children in our school have been using these dances to surround and intimidate other children."

But parents claim their children just like to dance - and have never heard of Fortnite.

(Image: Nottingham Post WS)

One mum said on Facebook : "My child is eight - she doesn't even know what Fortnite is!

"She just likes to dance - she's even taught me how to do it and is quite worried.

"I find this absolutely ludicrous that my child now feels this way about a daft dance move."

Another parent said: "If kids are using the dances to intimidate kids (sounds ridiculous to me) then banning the dance doesn't help. They will use something else."

One said: "I had no idea it was connected to the game and kids are using it to bully other kids.

"I can see the schools point now. But they need to explain it to the kids too."