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These shocking photos show the severe sunburn damage suffered by a pupil during a school trip to Spain.

Connor Pritchard, 15, was one of four pupils admitted to hospital for treatment on their return from a trip to Barcelona.

The pupils, from Buile Hill Visual Arts College, were burnt at a water park near the Spanish city.

Their headteacher backed his four staff who accompanied the party of 41 pupils on the holiday saying they had done everything they could to warn the children about the dangers of being exposed to the sun, but a minority ignored them.

Teachers are not allowed to touch children to apply cream, Manchester Evening News reports.

The mum of one boy who suffered serious burns says she broke down after seeing her son's blistered body.

(Image: MEN)

Connor Pritchard, 15, required specialist treatment at the burns unit in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

His mum, Estelle, 37, said: "When he stepped off the coach I could see the bulge of the blisters on his arm. He tried to lift his shirt up and I broke down when I saw the burns.

"No teacher hung around to speak to me. I just took one look and said 'right lets get you to hospital'.

"He had burns to his back, arms, and shoulders. There were four children in total from the school at the children's hospital. It was awful to hear them screaming.

"I had to watch as they scraped the damaged skin from Connor. It was terrible to see, he was in so much pain."

The school said parents had to sign a contract ahead of the trip which

included the importance of children protecting themselves with Factor 50 sun cream when told to do so.

But Mrs Pritchard, of Pendleton, said she was not given a contract from the school as Connor got a place on the trip late when another child pulled out.

(Image: MEN)

She added: "He was told in the morning before they went to water park to

put on sun lotion, which he did as I had packed him some Factor 15. But he

was not told again after that to top it up. They arrived at the park at

about 10 am and were there until after 4pm and it was very hot.

"I think it was total neglect on the part of the teachers.

"He had to travel for 26 hours on coach and ferry back from Barcelona in that state.

"He will remain a patient at the hospital for the next six weeks before they discharge him."

She added: "The only papers I got from the school were about the payment for the trip."

The incident occurred when 13 to 15 year olds went on a trip from July 6 to 12.

(Image: MEN)

Some of those burned have not returned to school as they were so badly injured.

The school is now considering not allowing any further trips abroad.

Headteacher, James Inman, said: "At a pre-trip meeting the children and their parents were warned about the dangers of the sun.

"They were instructed to bring and apply Factor 50 suncream regularly throughout the trip and both the children and their parents signed a code of conduct agreement. This explicitly states they must wear Factor 50 when exposed to the sun and follow teachers' instructions on this at all times.

"They were also reminded that teachers are not allowed to touch children to apply suncream.

"On the day of the pre-planned trip to a water park the group were told at breakfast and before leaving the coach on arrival to apply suncream and be careful of the sun. The group were positioned in a shaded area and reminded regularly during the day to keep applying sun cream.

"Unfortunately a small minority of children chose to ignore every one of these warnings and teachers' advice to protect themselves by staying in the shade during the day.

"Staff were very upset that the children did suffer burns but there was nothing they could do. The other children had a superb holiday and did not suffer sunburn because they followed instructions.

"We may need to review the whole issue of school trips if children refuse to follow explicit instructions which they have signed up to."