WORCESTERSHIRE County Council got surprisingly touchy this week when we asked about its policy for keeping children safe from the sun while in school.

Not a very controversial issue, you might have thought, but these days little in our schools is straightforward.

Malvern mum Julie Flook has a particular reason to be aware of the dangers of over-exposure to the sun, after her daughter needed an operation to remove a malignant melanoma when she was just seven-years-old.

She is campaigning for schools to take more responsibility for sun awareness.

In response to a number of enquiries from schools, in May Peter Babb, health and safety co-ordinator (education) for the county council, sent out out advice that staff should not apply sun screen to pupils.

Concerns included allergic reactions from applying the wrong lotions, the need to store a large number of different bottles and even possible allegations of physical abuse if lotion was applied to a child whose parent had not given consent - who'd be a teacher!?

Mr Babb told us teachers already had more than enough to do and were not there to take over parental responsibility.

His letter to schools suggests parents should be advised to use a long lasting sun screen that can be applied at home before the child comes to school and send their child with a hat to wear outside during break times.

Schools should not just ignore the issue. Staff should be prepared to remind pupils and parents of the need to wear sun protection and a hat, but the ultimate responsibility lies at home.