A Catholic school has prompted a uniform row by banning a four-year-old Muslim girl from wearing a headscarf at school.

St Clare's School in Handsworth, on the outskirts of Birmingham, asked the girl’s parents to respect their strict uniform policy, which includes no headwear or scarfs.

The primary school’s decision ignited a debate among community leaders after the girl’s father called on town hall officials to intervene.

Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council's Labour cabinet member for equalities, said that he had met with the head teacher and told her the ban on the scarf was against the equalities act.

He added: "I'm insisting this matter is addressed [as soon as possible] with a change of policy."