THERE was confusion across Gwent today over parents' rights to film or photograph their children in school productions.

Councils in Edinburgh, Norfolk and Luton have provoked a storm of controversy by banning parents from filming school nativities and other events amid fears the footage would end up in the hands of paedophiles.

But in Gwent, local education authorities (LEAs) were split over what action to take. Torfaen and Newport LEAs have no formal policy over filming but advise head teachers to get the consent of every parent before filming or photography takes place.

A Torfaen spokesman said: "The council has not got a policy of banning parents from filming school plays but caution must be exercised."

A spokeswoman for Newport said: "It would be down to individual schools and whether parents gave their consent for filming to take place."

But Blaenau Gwent LEA is telling schools that if a parent is unhappy about the filming of a nativity or other production then the head teacher must err on the side of caution and not to allow recording or photographs.

Monmouthshire and Caerphilly councils say issue of recording nativity plays was down to the individual head teachers and the discretion of the schools in question.

Carol Wandsworth, head teacher at Maindee Primary School, Newport, said that it was unfortunate that the situation had come to this.

She added: "Schools video the performance for evidence for inspectors and not for public viewing and I can see that videos will eventually become just for evidence purposes rather then the pleasure of parents."

Mrs Wandsworth said the logistics of organising and seeking approval from all parents would be immense. "In future schools may have to write a letter to parents asking if there are any objections to the nativity play being filmed."

Councillor Bob Wilcox, former chairman of Monmouthshire council and a retired head teacher, said: "It is a sad state of affairs when parents can no longer take photos of their children at school."

Greta Thomas, director of NSPCC Wales, said internet child pornography was a real problem but people should keep a sense of perspective of the risks that this event would hold.

"It is important that schools take sensible precautions," she added. "Parents should not be prevented from taking pictures of or filming their children. These are normal family practices and help to mark milestones in a child's life."