AS a parent of a child at Darwen Moorland High School, I fully support the headteacher and staff over the action they are taking to prevent pupils leaving the school site to visit the burger van which has appeared opposite the school (LET, April 19).

When I send my child to school I expect him to observe, and the school to enforce, the school rule which says that pupils should not leave school premises without permission.

It seems absolutely ridiculous that people should suddenly think that the school should override this rule just so that they can make a profit out of the children.

As a business adviser, I know that when people set up in business they should investigate potential pitfalls.

If the owners of this burger van were relying on trade from the school they should have taken the simple precaution of checking with the school if there were likely to be any problems. They cannot now blame the school for enforcing a rule that was already in place.

This is quite apart from the traffic hazard it causes when it's open before school and the effect it will inevitably have on the diets of pupils who use it.

After all, at least by having lunch in school parents can be confident that their children get a proper meal and don't live on burgers and fizzy drinks. I'm sure most parents would be appalled that their children have been visiting this van instead of eating in school.

JANICE PARKER, Sudell Road, Darwen.

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