A NORTH Yorkshire school has banned its pupils from buying sweets from a next-door leisure centre.

Coun Brian Marshall has branded the decision by Barlby High School "stupid", and said Barlby Leisure Centre would lose a vital source of income.

Pupils have been told not to purchase sweets or crisps from the leisure centre during school hours - even though Barlby High shares the same site in York Road, and uses its sports facilities.

Under a new exclusivity contract between the school and its caterers, students can now only buy food and snacks from its canteen - which does not sell sweets.

Headteacher Francis Loftus said: "We follow national nutritional guidelines and therefore don't sell sweets in the canteen, but pupils can still buy them before and after school."

Updated: 11:05 Monday, September 24, 2001