An Isleworth schoolboy was sent home on his first day back at school - for having an inch-long ginger fringe.

Felix Kramer, 15, had been back at Isleworth and Syon School for Boys for less than an hour on Friday before getting booted out - even though his brown hair was not dyed, but simply bleached ginger by the sun.

"I was five minutes late for assembly when a senior teacher took me aside and said I had to go home," said the GCSE student. "I didn't even have time to see my friends.

"I was shocked as my hair goes like this every year, but they said it wasn't acceptable. My dad was quite angry about it and said I should get the school to pay for my haircut."

Although teachers from the School, in Ridgeway Road, admitted to Felix's furious father Ian that he hadn't had it dyed and had in fact not breached the school rules, the teenager is not allowed back until he gets it trimmed.

Head teacher Euan Ferguson defended the school's reaction."We are very proud of the high standards we set," he said. "My staff and I continue to monitor these standards on a daily basis to ensure that our high expectations are met."

Felix returned to school yesterday after getting his fringe trimmed.