A school has backed down from a controversial plan to ban skirts after pupils and parents opposed the move.

Pakefield High School assistant headteacher Paul Usher wrote to parents last week to say: 'The senior leadership team have made the decision that, as of September 2016, ALL pupils, male and female, will be wearing trousers and skirts will not be allowed.'

Headteacher Perry Linsley said the school made the decision because it was concerned the length of some girls' skirts was too short.

But the proposal for the school in London Road, Pakefield, was dashed when pupils and parents made strong objections.

Tabitha Bennett, 14, of Lowland Close, Kessingland, said in a letter she drafted to the headteacher: 'Girls not being allowed to wear skirts is ridiculous.

'If you ban skirts, you are making a negative statement. You are practically saying that you care more about how we look than our education.'

Mr Linsley said: 'We didn't quite anticipate just how concerned the girls and parents were.'

He said that the proposal had been withdrawn and that the school would now consult with pupils and parents on any future changes.

However, those will not involve a ban on skirts.

Tabitha's mother Amanda, 44, said she had been concerned at the proposal.

'I think a lot of schools seem to be interested in how they look when they should concentrate more on their education,' Mrs Bennett said.