Snowflake parents across Britain are changing the endings of classic fairytales when they read them to their children - because they're 'politically incorrect'.

A study revealed a quarter of parents have admitted to changing traditional endings to make them more 'appropriate'.

Around 16 per cent confessed they avoid certain stories altogether over fears they are too scary or could send youngsters the wrong message.

Many think it is 'unfair' that the Gingerbread Man gets eaten by a fox, while others fear The Ugly Ducking could bring about insecurities and body shaming.

Little Red Riding Hood is the story changed by parents most often, with alternative endings seeing the central character making friends with the wolf instead of helping to kill him.

Parents across the country have admitted to changing the endings of fairytales because they are too scary or not politically correct. The one changed most often was Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood is the story parents are most likely to change, followed closely by The Three Little Pigs and The Gingerbread Man.

The survey of 2,000 parents revealed over a third think it is 'cruel' that the Gingerbread Man is eaten by a fox.

Some 36 per cent are concerned by how the Pied Piper of Hamlin tricks children into following him.

Almost one in four think it is inappropriate to tell children the story of Cinderella, who was forced to do all of the cleaning and household chores.

While more than a quarter feel the same about Robin Hood, a man who stole from others.

One quarter of parents also avoid reading the Ugly Duckling as they worry it could encourage body-shaming and discrimination.

A third dislike Hansel and Gretel because the children are abandoned in the forest, while one in four think Sleeping Beauty is inappropriate as she was kissed without her consent.

Even Pinocchio leaves 27 per cent of parents worrying as the story tells the tale of a boy who runs away from home and lies to people.

Almost one in four parents think it is inappropriate to tell children the story of Cinderella, who was forced to do all of the cleaning and household chores

Liam Howley, marketing director at musicMagpie, which commissioned the research, said: 'Some of these stories have been around for generations - many would have been read to mums and dads when they were children.

'But times have changed and there are many elements to these classic tales which for some don't really fit into society as they once did.

The Three Little Pigs was the second most heavily changed fairytale by UK parents

'Not only that, but when you think about the storylines, some can be considered very scary for little children.'

The research, conducted for musicMagpie by OnePoll.com, also found three quarters of parents read their children bedtime stories, spending an average of 17 minutes on each story time.

But while 85 per cent read from a physical book, almost one in 10 will read from the tablet and one in twenty listen to spoken stories on the TV.

An inventive 18 per cent of parents even make up their own tales to entertain their children at bedtime.

Of those who don't read to their children, one in five parents claim they are too busy, with ten percent admitting they would rather give them a tablet or audio book to listen to before bed.

Others let them watch TV instead (15 per cent), say their children don't enjoy reading stories (25 per cent) or lack confidence in their own reading abilities (15 per cent).

Despite this, 97 per cent of parents think it is important to read to their children.

The survey of 2,000 parents revealed over a third think it is 'cruel' that the Gingerbread Man (pictured in the film Shrek) is eaten by a fox

Liam Howley added: 'It's great to know that the majority of parents read their children bedtime stories, plus they think it's important to.

'While the format of how they read to them is in the form of a physical book, it's interesting to see that almost one in 10 will read from a tablet.

'As technology has advanced and lives have become busier, it's not surprising to see that parents are leaning towards tablets and audio books when it comes to easy bedtime reading.

'At musicMagpie, we've seen a huge rise in parents purchasing refurbished tech for their children to keep them entertained, and we expect this trend of buying refurbished, rather than new, to grow even more this year.'