AN education boss has advised schools not to run religious workshops which encourage children to make their own gods and race them in remote-controlled cars.

The warning comes after St John's with St Augustine's C of E Primary School, Accrington, was caught up in controversy surrounding the man behind the courses -- Nelson artist Anthony Padgett.

Thirty-five children at the school took part in activities that included creating their own gods, racing them on remote controlled cars which were rigged not to allow a winner, dressing as religious leaders and taking part in a quiz.

They also looked at idols from different religions in a theatre setting called Divinityland, which Mr Padgett said formed part of the artistic content of the work he does.

But the Rev Peter Ballard, director of education for the Diocese of Blackburn, said he would advise schools not to run the workshops which combine art and religious studies.

He said: "The school, like all schools, was trying to do something innovative with the curriculum. Perhaps some of the issues didn't quite come off.

"He took a particular line which led to some unfortunate expressions of beliefs in God.

"He was trying to inspire them to look at God in different ways.

"But it was not necessarily completely in keeping with the way we would teach RE in a church school.

"I don't have any powers to stop it happening but I don't think I would be happy if it were done in other Church of England schools."

Mr Ballard admitted that there had been no complaints from parents about the workshop.

Anthony, 36, who taught religious education in the 1990s, said: "The work encourages children to look at the split between different religions and to look for positive ways forward instead of treating God as exclusive and separate.

"It was about the energy and enthusiasm children can bring to looking at religion and making it relevant to their lives."

He urged Mr Ballard to see the work before making a judgement about whether it should be allowed in other church schools.

Anthony, who describes his own religious beliefs as being a mixture between Quaker, Unitarian and Jewish, added: "If you teach Islam you are contradicting Christian teachings, but this was done in the context of a liberal educational tradition."