A FURIOUS couple who were banned from filming their children in a school play have slammed the decision.
Michael McKenna and his partner Joyce Kenyon went to watch their children Matthew, 11, and Charlotte, nine, perform in a nativity play at Benjamin Hargreaves' Primary School in Accrington.
They took along a video camera and were hoping to make a tape of the annual school event.
But the couple, who also have a son Jack, 14, were told they could not use the camera since there were parents who did not want their children filmed.
Michael, 46, of Clement Street, Accrington, said: "We are not blaming the headteacher, but it is ridiculous we couldn't film our children.
"It is political correctness gone mad and it's probably because of all this human rights legislation.
"We wanted to film them so we would have something to show our grandchildren in later years, but we were told we could not do it.
"If it had been at a swimming pool, then it would have been fair enough, but all the children were fully clothed.
"It broke my partner's heart when she found out and she had tears in her eyes."
Joyce, 41, added: "We were very upset and when we spoke to other parents on the night, they felt the same way too.
"As parents we realise that we have to protect our children, but these are memories for the whole family.
"In this case, a minority of people who signed a form saying they did not want their children being photographed have spoilt it for the majority.
"It is a sad world we live in when something like this happens."
Pauline Mallaby, headteacher at the school, said: "We were sent a child protection pack by Lancashire County Council last year.
"This contained a parental consent form, which we sent out to all the parents asking them if we could record their children at school.
"We received some back saying we couldn't and all our children were in the play, so we had to respect the wishes of the parents."
