Pupils lined up by colour for photograph

Children were left in tears after they were separated according to their skin colour for school photos.

More than 100 boys and girls aged from seven to 11 were lined up from the fairest skinned to the darkest.

But the segregation left several of the pupil so upset they cried to their parents when they got home.

One angry mum said: "My 10-year-old was told to go further back in the line as she was not white enough. She came home devastated saying, 'I wish my skin was lighter mummy.'"

Another parent, Ann Andrew, 49, said her daughter, Angela, 10, came home in tears and said: "My school's so racist."

Dozens of parents have complained to Sandhurst Junior School in Lewisham.

Headteacher Val Hughes said pupils had been divided up according to skin tone but claimed it was to make it easier for the photographer.

In a letter to Mrs Andrews she said: "Some classes were organised lightest to darkest skin tone and some darkest to lightest. This meant the photographer did not have to keep readjusting his reflector screens."

Parents are planning to protest to Lewisham Council.