SCHOOLS in Kent have been told by education chiefs that they are free to ban parents from photographing or making videos of pupils.

Head teachers will be able to decide for themselves whether home videos of school events should require the written permission of every parent who has a child taking part.

The radical step has been prompted by fears that recordings of children could find their way into the hands of paedophiles.

In Edinburgh, the city council told schools under its jurisdiction that people would not be able to use cameras at Nativity plays unless they had written permission.

Kent County Council will not impose a county-wide ban but has told schools that the decision on whether parents are allowed to make recordings of children is up to them.

Spokeswoman Sarah Howe said: "Where parents have expressed concerns that their children may be videoed by strangers, and the schools have contacted us for advice, we have advised that it is better to err on the side of caution and dissuade people from videoing plays.

"We do not have a formal policy. It is down to the discretion of the individual schools."