THE mother of a Northallerton teenager has hit out at school rules over clothes.

Gill Clarridge says staff at the Allertonshire School told her daughter, Abbie, they would confiscate her denim jacket if she wore it again.

Mrs Clarridge - a single parent who works part-time - said this leaves Abbie with just one suitable coat for school, and that was given to them by a friend.

"If it had not been for that she wouldn't have anything to wear," said Mrs Clarridge, of Beech Grove.

Abbie says some pupils are organising a protest petition about the regulations.

But head teacher Madeleine Hart said she was simply reinforcing school policy on uniforms. She said most parents welcomed the guidance.

Mrs Clarridge said parents had been told pupils must wear particular types of coats. Sports jackets, "hoodies", fleeces, denims or fur coats were banned. Any light-coloured weather-proof jacket was acceptable.

Last week, Abbie went in her denim jacket and says she was warned if she wore it again it would be confiscated. She now wears a light-coloured coat she says is too big and too warm.

"Does it really matter what they wear to get to and from school?" said Mrs Clarridge.

She said quite a few people had complained and some pupils had been raising a petition.

Abbie, 14, said: "We were told the school thought things were getting a bit untidy."

"If they had given us more notice that would not have been so bad, as you have time to save up and buy what is needed," said her mother. "I can't just go out and get whatever I want and then Abbie is picked out and bullied simply because I don't have the money.

"The school should have more common sense. I agree about the wearing of uniforms, but this is going too far."

Mrs Hart said: "Allertonshire has always been a uniform school and students have worn it with pride. Most still continue that way.

"Most pupils are sensible enough to understand why a uniform is necessary and it has been disappointing that some students have been coming to school in unacceptable clothes.

"The policy is aimed at helping them understand that we are preparing the pupils for adulthood and for making a positive contribution to society. The way an individual presents himself or herself to the community is important.

"Our issue is really about sweatshirts, not coats, and I have reinforced school policy on this."

Mrs Hart said she would need to investigate Mrs Clarridge's claims.