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Updated 07 October 2004, 18.35 

Playing conkers is banned in some schools because of the risk of eye injuries.
But a headmaster in Cumbria has got round this problem by providing goggles for his pupils to play in!
So, do you love to play this playground game? If so, how do you make sure you conquer with your conker?!
Have you ever been injured by one in the eye?
And are you hoping goggles will be introduced in your school so the game can live on?
Write now and hit us with your conker stories!
Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.
I've never played conkers 'cos I've never lived in England. My parents are British and they seem to think I'm missing something! Bex, 14, Malawi
It is plain silly that conkers are dangerous- they are dangerous only when you try to pick them up in their spiky shell when they fall off trees without gloves. Andrew, 12, Uckfield
Conkers do rock - to make them harder if you put clear nail varnish on then put them in the airing cupboard they are hard by the next day, trust me it works!! Conkers rule Becci, 10, Fulham
I don't play conkers any more since I finished primary school but banning them is a bit stupid if you use them right then your shouldn't really get hurt. Besides how can you ban something that's grown naturally on trees? Matthew, 13, Stroud
I think playing conkers is a great idea though I don't actually play the game I just collect them. In my area they will start to pile up so I will hopefully start collecting them again. Samson, 12, London
Having goggles is a crazy idea so maybe a few people get hit in the face. One boy at my old school got hit in the face by a mars bar and damaged his eye, but they didn't make people wear goggles when someone was eating a chocolate bar! Rob, 11, Thame
Do people who aren't playing conkers have to wear goggles? I think that rule wastes money that could be spent on other school equipment like computers and although playing conkers is fun, it isn't really that unsafe!! Kim, 14, London
My uncle lives near a conker tree and I get hundreds all time I go and see him. But I don't do anything with them. Andrea, 15, Cumbria
Playing conkers is brilliant. I play conkers with my best friend loads. Once, I found five big conkers and smashed my friends to a pulp! Saffron, 13, Leeds
I think conkers are great. If conkers are a real danger I'm sure that people would have stopped playing ages ago. Tasha, 12, Guildford
I'm not really bothered about conkers but people can throw them and hurt people and that's not good. Carol, 12, Sheffield
Although I did get hurt by playing conkers last year I still think banning them is the biggest load of rubbish. Joel, 12, Belfast
I don't think conker goggles are a good idea because the school has just wasted money on goggles and by December no one will have conkers. Yelena, 10, Essex
I don't play with conkers because my cousin Leona was blinded in the eye because of one! Zoe, 13, Dundee
I've never played conkers in my life but my mom told me she used to when she was little. I used to collect them when I was younger but had never heard of the game 'till my mom mentioned it . Now I know what it is I think that there is no harm in playing something if you enjoy it but I personally don't! Maryam, 13, Manchester
I think conkers is ok, when my little sister wants to find some conkers they are all gone because all the other kids have got them playing conkers! Grace, 12, Nottingham
It's silly really, but that's what young people do. They do really silly stuff, thinking it's funny. It is sometimes. But it's better if it's safe. Why stop people having silly old fun? Just make sure everyone's safe! Hannan, 13, Newcastle
I myself am not a conker playing person but at my old school (which was primary) loads of kids enjoyed playing it, and so did the headmaster! He used to play, drill holes, and one time he broke a kid' conker in a match and gave the kid his conker!!! Some kids have good memories and it would be a shame to let them die. Tilly, 11, Bexhill-On-Sea
I think conkers are great fun as long as you are always sensible and be careful not to cause anyone an injury. Katy, 15, Oxford
I think that banning conkers because they can injure people is a step too far - again. I really don't think our grandparents had many injuries with conkers - if they were so dangerous as people are trying to make out they are, they would have died out as a children's game a long time ago. Laura, 15, Chorley
I hope that they start doing it over here in primary schools because parents and brothers and sisters want their younger brothers or sisters to be safe when they're playing conkers and not be blinded. Maisie, 12, Trowbridge
My next door neighbour has a horse chestnut tree and she lets my friends and I collect conkers. I have some really big conkers. I don't want to play conkers but I want the game to keep going because other children find it fun. Pippa, 10, Castlemorris
We have a competition in our school to see who can find the biggest conker. The prize is usually a book about nature and gardening tools which is useful! Lisa, 13, Durham
Conkers are great fun and I play with conkers with my mate outside on the patio. Pearl, 11, Sheffield
I don't really play with conkers. My brother collects them but I don't really associate myself with them. One boy got a bloody nose once because the conker got thrown in his face. I was seven then and he was the same age. He didn't see the conker coming. Soaking them in vinegar might be a good idea to make them stronger but it seems like a waste of vinegar. Josie, 15, Clapham
Conkers rock, I once went to the conker world championships with my dad and I've been hooked ever since! Kayte, 15, Swansea
Playing conkers is wicked. I soak mine in vinegar and stick them in the airing cupboard to make them stronger! Dan, 11, Nottingham
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