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A showdown meeting between teachers and a parent about a flavoured water ban at a primary school has ended in deadlock – and the mum is still banned from the school grounds.

Mum-of-three Bernadette Finnegan has been banned from Abbey Hulton Primary School and has led the campaign against the school’s new healthy eating policy.

She met teachers today to try to resolve the row after claiming children with packed lunches face discrimination because of the policy.

The 48-year-old, from Bucknall, said: “I met the school today and we are in deadlock. I asked the school about the policy but I have zero-confidence in them.

“I was told by the school that flavoured water and juices have been banned because of the sweeteners and the children might get a sweet tooth – but I said milk contains sugars.

“I don’t know what the school expected from this meeting. I’m still banned from the school grounds but I don’t mind waiting for my children – they will not silence me.”

The school's healthy eating policy also bans chocolate bars, sweets, sausage rolls, cereal bars and cans of pop - despite fish and chips being on the weekly hot dinners menu.

But teachers insist the school’s menu complies with Public Health England guidelines - which promotes milk as a ‘healthy alternative’ to juice.

Bernadette, who has been spoken to by police about the juice row, says she is now arranging another meeting with the school.

Abbey Hulton Primary School hopes it can resolve the issues in the coming weeks - and confirmed Bernadette is still banned from the school grounds.

A school spokesman said: “We met with Bernadette Finnegan today to listen to her concerns and offer her the chance to work with us – and other parents – in developing our school’s healthy eating initiatives.

“We’re keen to resolve this issue and hope she will meet with us in the future to arrange this.

“In the meantime, we have been left with the difficult position of having to confirm her ban from the school, due to the language and behaviour that she has used and intimidation that has been felt by a member of staff and some parents. We hope these issues can be worked through over the coming weeks.”