A FIVE-year-old boy has been suspended from school - for having tramlines shaved into his hair.

The parents of Oliver Slaven say they have been told he cannot return to classes at St Catherine CE Primary School in Horwich until the lines have been removed. But they claim this would mean shaving him bald - and instead say they will keep him at home until his hair grows back.

Oliver's father, Stephen Slaven, agreed to the new style when he took him for a haircut. Mum Melanie Lock, aged 33, said: "I have explained to the school what happened and that it would never happen again.

"I understand the rules and regulations in place at schools, but I was hoping that just this once the headteacher would make an exception and see the funny side.

"She insisted that Oliver gets another hair cut which will leave him bald and make him feel odd.

"Now I am just waiting to be told when I can take Oliver back to school."

Oliver started at St Catherine's as a nursery pupil three years ago and, according to his parents, enjoys lessons. He wanted the tramlines because he wanted a different hairstyle.

When he asked, his dad gave the barber the go-ahead. But he soon lived to regret his decision when Miss Lock saw the new hairstyle.

She said: "It was a mistake. As soon as I saw what had happened I told Stephen off. He said Oliver had asked for them, but I told his dad that he was the adult and he should have said no.

"Now Oliver is worried about going back into school because of all the fuss and I am concerned he is at home missing important lessons.

"This has been blown out of all proportion."

In his defence, Stephen, aged 42, said: "Oliver was asking for a more dramatic style and I said he could have the two tramlines. I really did not think it would be a problem."

Headteacher Anne Duckworth said she had to enforce the rules of the school, otherwise a precedent would be set.

"As a parent, I can see the funny side of what has happened, but as a headteacher I have to take a firm stance," she said.

"We have had incidents like this before and other parents have been told to take their child back to the hairdresser.

"Oliver's tramlines are very big and I am sure the barber would be able to do something to smooth them in. But instead Oliver's mum has chosen to take Oliver out of school."

When asked if Oliver would be allowed back into school with his current hairstyle, Mrs Duckworth said: "That is a conversation I should be having with his mother."