A school teacher has been blasted by furious parents after he told junior school pupils that Santa Claus did not exist as they wrote their letters to him.
The teacher was taking a literacy lesson which involved the children, aged eight and nine, writing a letter to Father Christmas.
During the class he told the youngsters that the man bringing them presents just wasn't real - and the Year Four pupils were left devastated.
The school in Christchurch, Dorset, has now been met with a stream of complaints from furious parents.
A parent of an eight-year-old child in the class said: ‘I was fuming when I found out. I spoke to the teacher and to the headteacher.
'The headteacher apologised, but the teacher seemed shocked that people were complaining.
‘He told the children to put their hands over their ears if they did not want Christmas spoilt, so it was not accidental.'
One parent, who asked not to be named, said: 'This teacher has upset all our children'.
Headteacher Simon Adorian admitted that the teacher had made a mistake following what he described as an 'awkward exchange with pupils' after one of them quizzed him over Santa's existence.
'He was asked whether he existed and responded in a way, and with a look, that gave them doubt.
'He made a mistake, but we have covered it up, just as you do with children and they haven't asked about it anymore.'
He added that the teacher was 'mortified' by what had happened.
'I have probably never spoken to someone who is feeling as sorry as this teacher, said Mr Adorian.
'He is extremely sorry about it, nothing like this has ever happened before, we celebrate Christmas as traditionally as other schools.
'Children left the room saying to their parents that Santa Claus isn't really real, which upset them, and that is the last thing I want.'
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