Schools which ban parents from filming their children in nativity plays are edging on paranoia, a union boss declared today.

Ian Murch, secretary of Bradford National Union of Teachers, spoke out after hearing a Luton school has put a ban of any kind of photography at its nativity performance for fear of paedophile rings operating on the internet.

Mr Murch said: "Banning parents with videos and cameras from nativities is on the edge of paranoia.

"I've never heard of a Bradford school taking that step yet - although the issue of photographing and videoing children is a complicated one and there is a process of getting permission first in schools."

Jean Blackburn, head teacher of Brackenhill Primary School, Scholemoor, Bradford, and an executive member of Bradford Primary Heads Association, said she thought schools in the district handled the issue sensibly and sensitively. "Usually videos and photographs taken and made in schools are for educational purposes only - they aren't for general use or sale.

"Most schools make it clear that from time to time picture and video opportunities might occur and if parents don't want their child involved, it's their responsibility to let us know."

Jill Roberts, head teacher of High Craggs Primary School in Shipley, said: "We've been on television and in the papers quite a lot and we haven't had any parents object to that. Neither have we had any objections to pictures and videos taken of our nativity plays. But if we did, then we'd have to respect that parent's wish and impose a total ban."

Professional videographer Keith Pitts, of Bradford-based Digital Image, said he thought schools which ban parents from filming nativity plays have "gone bonkers" with political correctness.

Mr Pitts said banning proud families from filming their offspring on stage would put a damper on one of the traditional highlights of Christmas.

"Parents are justifiably proud of their children and a lot of people like to take photos and make videos of nativity plays so they can share them with grandmas and grandpas who maybe couldn't get to the performance."

Mr Pitts, who has worked professionally with schools for more than seven years, added: "I don't think any schools in Bradford will follow what Luton's done. But if they did, they'd be crazy - unless parents specifically asked for a ban."

"Some schools get round this situation by employing professional videographers to make an official video which the school then sells on to parents who want one.

"I don't think there's much risk of anyone manipulating a nativity video anyway because there's 25 frames a second to deal with, so it would take months to change just a few seconds."