Girls at a secondary school who were sent home for wearing trousers were warned that the same punishment will be meted out again.

Nearly 100 girls from William de Ferrers school in South Woodham were turned away on Friday for wearing trousers in contravention of the school's dress code.

Yesterday (Monday), deputy head Andrew Merchant said: "I think they made their point on Friday.

"We have got 900 girls at the school. A lot of the girls who wore trousers on Friday went home and changed and came back to school - some even had their skirts in their bags.

"There were at least 90 girls who took part in the protest.

"If they come in with trousers again they will be sent home to change.

"The school's governing body were looking at this issue anyway, we want to resolve this matter properly.

"Parents, the student body the school council, and the school's governing body will be discussing the issue in the near future."

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