THE case of the five-year-old boy suspended from a Horwich primary school for having tramlines shaved into his hair has split public opinion.

While some readers feel Oliver Slaven shouldn't lose education time at St Catherine's CE School because of something as "trivial" as a haircut, others believe that school rules are there for everyone to abide by.

I'm with the latter lot. But I also feel that allowing any five-year-old to dictate when it comes to altering his appearance is starting a dangerous game.

I've no doubt this was a one-off, and I suspect it led to an unholy row at home when mum saw what had happened, and what was likely to result.

It will certainly deter the rest of the school's pupils from having unusual modern haircuts, though. And, with luck, Oliver's hair should soon grow out and he'll return to the classroom, with a lesson learned all round.