Ten primary school pupils were sent home today for turning up in England football tops.Angry parents besieged Orchards Primary School, in Wisbech, this morning, demanding their children be let in.

Ten primary school pupils were sent home today for turning up in England football tops.

Angry parents besieged Orchards Primary School, in Wisbech, this morning, demanding their children be let in.

But after a stand-off lasting more than an hour, they gave up and went home.

Nicola Whyatt, whose two youngsters were sent home, said: "These children have not been allowed in school, they have been told to change their tops or go home.

"I am furious. They are denying my children an education because he happens to want to wear a football top in support of his country."

Mum Vicky Ketteringam said: "My boys came to school with their shirts into school and the head just told them to change."

Another parent, Alison Green, also a mother of two children told to change their tops, claimed she had been told by a teacher to either change her children's tops.

Today the school was referring all inquiries to Cambridgeshire County Council, which confirmed Orchard School does not have a compulsory uniform policy.

Spokesman Simon Cobby said children were asked not to wear any football tops, regardless of the team, because the nylon material was "not appropriate" in the heatwave.

"If children choose not to wear uniform they are required to wear clothing appropriate for lessons.

"In some cases children have been turning up in the full England kit including football boots with studs which the school thought inappropriate. They asked them to go home and change."

"The school is fully behind the World Club and indeed will be celebrating it next week."

Mr Cobby said the head, Jacqueline Carpenter, was away from school today.