Staff at the Holy Trinity School at Calne in Wiltshire have told parents to leave their video cameras at home during nativity plays and sports day - citing child protection as the reason.

In a statement, teachers said they were just trying to find a balance between common sense and caution.

Some parents did not want their children filmed, and they had to respect those parents' wishes, the statement said.

"Our prime concern is always the safety of the children in our care, and we are trying to combine common sense with caution.

"It is certainly not our intention to spoil parents' memories of their children's special days.

'Family practice'

"We sent out forms to parents asking permission for their children to be photographed and although many expressed their support, a number have asked that their children are not photographed, and the school must of course respect their wishes.

"Video cameras are indiscriminate, and children's privacy and protection cannot be guaranteed."

But parent Craig Gascoigne said: "It's like so many things nowadays, we feel they have had something taken away from them and it's part of our children's lives."

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said filming school events was "a normal family practice, which helps to mark milestones in a child's life,