Egg and gloom for school sports day

Traditional races have been given the sack

Parents have been banned from attending a school sports day for fear of "embarrassing" their children.

Head teacher Judith Wressel is introducing a less competitive format for the event at Maney Hill Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

This includes scrapping the egg and spoon and sack races, which apparently cause too much stress to those who don't win them.

Ms Wressel said in a letter to parents: "Taking part in traditional races can be difficult and often embarrassing for many children.

"This is why we now envisage a different outdoor activity event which will suit all children."

The decision is not popular with some parents.

Rob Busst, whose two sons attend the school, said: "They are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. This is political correctness gone mad.

"Children don't become scarred for life because they lose the egg and spoon race."

But they could easily be left with egg on their faces.