PUPILS at a Workington school were turned away for wearing fancy dress ­— a Halloween tradition their parents remember when they were children.

Earlier in the week, Northside Community School sent home messages saying school uniforms were to be worn because pupils would be doing other activities.

But a group of more than 14 parents sent their children to the school in their costumes in a effort to try and have the tradition kept alive at the school.

A spokeswoman for the group said: "More than 20 children got sent home. They were gutted, they had all made a massive effort.

"They missed out last year because they weren't in school with lockdown and obviously this year with everybody settling back in to school, all we wanted was for our kids to celebrate and I don't think that kids going into school in a Halloween costume is preventing them from learning and receiving education."

The spokeswoman said that 25 pupils in total were sent away with none of them returning back to school for the day.

The mother-of-two said that the tradition had been something that has happened in Northside Community School for a number of years.

She said: "Some of these mothers who I am speaking on behalf of, they went to Northside when they were younger as well and they have done this every single year, but this headteacher has just started this January.

"The kids have been locked down they couldn't celebrate Halloween last year, they've been stuck at home isolated from their school friends.

"It was important this one year for the kids to have fun."

However, the school said that there had been some children who had returned to their studies after being asked to return in uniform

Northside Primary School headteacher Joanne Lloyd said: “A message was sent home earlier in the week advising parents that we wouldn’t be having Halloween fancy dress this year as other activities were planned with the children.

“Some children did still attend in fancy dress and parents were asked to return them home so they could change into uniform. Some of them did and joined in their class activities.

“We’re sorry some children are missing out on the final day of the half term. I will be contacting parents to try to resolve this communication issue at the earliest opportunity.”