A primary school has written to parents to explain that a male teacher will be returning after Christmas as a woman.

St Mary Magdalen's School in Accrington have asked pupils to address Nathan Upton as Miss Meadows from the start of the Spring term.

Karen Hardman, the headteacher at the Church of England school, said Mr Upton, who will also be dressing as a woman, has her full support.

Mr Upton has asked for his privacy to be respected, saying it had not been an easy decision to make.

Headteacher Karen Hardman said she realised that the issues was "bound to arouse interest".

But she added: "This is a personal matter for our staff member, who has our full support, and we are all working together to ensure it has the least impact on the smooth running of our school."

In a statement Mr Upton thanked school governors and colleagues for their support, and asked for his privacy to be respected.

The letter, notifying parents and guardians of staff changes at the Church of England school, ends: "Mr Upton has recently made a significant change in his life and will be transitioning to live as a woman. After the Christmas break, she will return to work as Miss Meadows."

The announcement has provoked concerns from some parents, who claim it has confused pupils who have got to know him as a man.

Dad Wayne Cowie has three sons at the school, aged six, eight and ten.

Mr Cowie, of Westwood Street, Accrington, said Mr Upton is his son's year group teacher.

He said: "He has had this teacher for three years. All of a sudden he is going to be coming to school after Christmas as a woman.

"They are too young to be dealing with that."

See more in the Accrington Observer , out on Thursday