Chestnuts!

Kids have been banned from playing conkers at school - unless they wear SAFETY GOGGLES. Head teacher Shaun Halfpenny brought in the nutty playtime ruling to prevent eye injuries. It was feared children could be hurt by flying bits of shattered horse chestnut.

Mr Halfpenny says he was forced to bring in the ruling to get round crazy new safety guidelines. He bought two pairs of goggles to prevent children getting eye injuries from flying pieces of conker. Children take it in turns to use the plastic glasses at playtime at Cummersdale Primary School in Carlisle.

Mr Halfpenny claims it was the only way he could let the kids play conkers after receiving a memo on health and safety. He said: "The children asked to play conkers in school and I thought it would be really mean if I said no. I was aware of a memo that had gone round warning about health and safety related to play in school.

"These days you cannot be too careful, especially when health and safety inspectors are watching. At the same time this is a custom that should not die."

Many schools have banned conkers for fear of getting sued if pupils are injured. Mr Halfpenny's move came after kids discovered a bumper crop of conkers on a school trip. He said: "I needed to make sure everything was done safely. So I drilled through the conkers myself to save little hands and fingers and went out to buy two pairs of goggles. If anything the goggles have increased the joy in the game, it gives it a sense of occasion."

Last month council chiefs in South Shields triggered outrage when they chopped the branches off horse chestnut trees claiming it was unsafe for kids to collect conkers. Tory MEP Martin Callanan hit out at the goggles ruling. He said: "It's over the top. I can't remember a child ever receiving a serious eye injury from a shattering conker.

"The worst that could happen is a sharp rap to a finger."

Source The Sun 4th October 2004