Liam Scholes was banned from photos of the event at his Manchester school and had to change Fifty Shades character to James Bond

Serial killers, wicked witches and evil warlords were all permitted, but when a pupil turned up in school for World Book Day as the BDSM-addicted protagonist from Fifty Shades of Grey, teachers drew the line.

Liam Scholes, 11, was told by Sale high school that he could not take part in the annual literary event dressed as Christian Grey, complete with bondage cable ties and an eye mask as props.

nicola scholes (@clangar) offensive costume.Excluded from photos, told to change yet teacher dressed as a serial killer and others with guns? pic.twitter.com/8OTZ9gPvEh

His mother, Nicola Scholes, a primary school teacher, accused the school of double standards. Talking to the Manchester Evening News, she pointed out that a teacher was dressed as the blood-splattered forensics-expert-turned-serial-killer Dexter from the book and US TV show.

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The school’s Facebook page shows other teachers had dressed as villains including Darth Vader and Oz’s Wicked Witch of the East, while the school invited Tim Collins, author of Diary of a Wimpy Vampire, to speak at the event.

Scholes said her son had not read the book or seen the film, but it was his idea to dress up as Grey. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “I don’t think there is anyone in the country who doesn’t know about the book – it’s been plastered everywhere for the past couple of years … Liam’s argument was that it was the most talked about book character for the last couple of years.”

She said Liam knew the meaning of the props he was carrying. “He is aware that the book contains things of a sexual nature,” she said.

She added it was unfair of the school to ban her son from photos of the event and ask him to change character to James Bond. She said Liam’s class mates were amused by the costume. “The vast majority of the students took it for the tongue-in-cheek joke that it was meant to be. There was no offence intended, it was meant to be a laugh. The school, however, didn’t see that.

“They wanted him to be James Bond [who] ironically is a very promiscuous character who kills people. So I don’t know who is worse of the two.” She said she “agreed to disagree” with the school.

Lynn Nicholls, headteacher of Sale high school, said she stood by her decision, which “reflected the school’s high standards in terms of student behaviour, welfare and safeguarding.

“The student was not excluded from taking part in any of the activities as has been wrongly reported,” she said. “His costume was modified and he was then able to fully participate and enjoy the day with his peers.

“The aim of our World Book Day events was to celebrate and encourage reading and we are disappointed that what was a fantastic day for our students has been marred by this issue.”

Myleene Klass (@KlassMyleene) And then there were two! #worldbookday #minimama ❤️😂 pic.twitter.com/2We97P8jw9

Meanwhile, other World Book Day costumes to raise eyebrows were those of the TV presenter Myleene Klass’s two daughters. Using the hashtag #minimama, the former Hear’Say singer proudly revealed on Twitter that she had dressed them as herself. Well, she has written books after all.