A soap actor has hit out at a primary school in Rochdale after they cancelled his children's Christmas nativity concert.
Ben Gerrard, 35, and other parents at Newhey Community Primary School received a newsletter this week to say they had chosen to 'suspend' the annual event.
The former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks actor, has two daughters aged five and nine, at the community primary school on Hawthorne Lane in Newhey.
The school cited feedback from parents and the 'forever demanding pressures' from OFSTED, for their reasoning behind what they explained as a 'difficult decision.'
But the controversial move has left both pupils and their families angry, with reports of a petition already having been lobbied at the school gates.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Gerrard said: "My kids are devastated and a I would imagine that a lot of other children are too.
"It is like a reward at the end of the year for working hard.
"It was a nice way for everyone to let their hair down."
The dad-of-two says he was left shocked having received the newsletter on Monday, and has since contacted the head teacher asking for a better explanation.
"When we found it was stopping due to feedback from parents, I thought, nobody has received any kind of consultation form about this.
"I wrote a post on Facebook to check I wasn't missing anything but everyone agreed.
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"I never expected the post to snowball as much as it did - judging from the reactions, everyone is just as appalled as me."
Ben says a number of parents have contacted the school to suggest alternative, more simple, Christmas celebrations, and that some have even begun a petition to overturn the decision.
"I imagine there will be one child or so that doesn't enjoy school concerts and I get that," he said.
"But there are hundreds of kids who get to shine bright and excel and they get to show off to their grandparents and aunties and the like.
"It's a chance for the whole family to get together."
Ben says if it comes down to it, he and other parents will set up their own celebration.
"I have nothing against the school, it's brilliant and the teacher's are fantastic," he added.
"But for me, school concerts were some of the happiest memories or primary school - I remember every single one.
"It's a tradition."
A school spokesperson said: “We consult with parents following each parents evening, providing the opportunity for parents to give feedback on all aspects of the school and we have taken on board the feedback we received about our Christmas concerts.
"We also place high importance on pupil voice and so we consulted with pupils during the summer term about the opportunities they valued and wished to be incorporated into our curriculum programme and extra-curricular activities.
"Feedback from pupils highlighted the summer talent show, the weekly glee club, the race for life, participation in the Rochdale Music Service as some of the events they wished to continue with.
"Our nursery and reception Christmas concerts continue and we will now have every class doing an assembly for parents during the whole Autumn term, giving our parents more opportunity to see their children perform in shows.”
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