Children at a primary school in Oxfordshire have been banned from playing with milk crates because of health and safety fears.

The Oxford Mail reported on 22 August that children at Wychwood Primary School, in Chipping Norton, have entertained themselves for more than 15 years with crates given to them by the local milkman. But the school was shocked to learn that Daily Crest had removed the crates from the playground because of that a child might get injured.

The school’s foundation stage leader, Anne Bardsley, is angered by the decision and said the children are very upset. She explained: “In all the time we have had the crates, we have not had a single child hurt themselves. The children absolutely loved them. They used to make castles, ships and cars out of them, and would put blankets over them to make dens.

“Dairy Crest has got no right to make judgements of health and safety on my risk management. It is absolutely outrageous.” 

It is believed that the previous dairy owners, rather than Dairy Crest, originally left the crates. Dairy Crest spokesman Lyndsey Anderson said: “We are sorry to have caused any distress to the children and staff at Wychwood CE Primary School by removing the old milk crates.

“We have contacted the school and hope to make it up to them by helping provide alternative equipment.”

She continued: “While we understand their disappointment at losing something they had come to view as playground equipment, it remains a fact that milk crates are not toys and current health and safety guidelines require that they should not be used as such. There are lots of ways in which they could be misused and they could break, and it is very sharp plastic if they do.”

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