EDUCATION bosses have moved to reassure parents and children after the controversial move to ban Islamic headscarves in France.

As of this term it is illegal to wear Islamic headscarves or crosses in French schools. It is illegal for schoolchildren to show any conspicuous sign of faith.

The ban has caused controversy and sent a shiver down the spines of advocates of East Lancashire's multi-faith society.

Leaders have spoken out over why this area is unlikely to follow the move adopted across the Channel.

Dave Hollings, executive member for education at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I don't think such a ban could ever happen here in the short term because at the moment we have faith schools, whereas the system in France is secular. It is almost unthinkable.

"There is a long tradition of faith schools in this country and the majority of mainstream parties are committed to keeping them."

Expert advisor on equality for Lancashire County Council-run schools Wayne Marland said the French legal decision went against years of tradition in Lancashire.

He said: "The reason this has sent such a shockwave is that it is in antithesis to what the communities in this area have tried to promote."