The cakes were on sale for 10p

Jim Whiteside said his son Allister was reduced to tears after being told to stop baking the fairy cakes for schoolmates at Bearwood Primary School in Smethwick, West Midlands.

Mr Whiteside has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair complaining about the treatment he said Allister received over the 10 pence treats.

The school's chair of governors, Steve Eling, said he believed a "considerable misunderstanding" had led to the row.

Free will

Mr Whiteside told the Birmingham Evening Mail how his son was "devastated" to be told his fundraising had to be put on hold until the spring.

The boy's father said: "We are only talking about a few pennies and no-one is forced to buy them."

Mr Eling said Allister was at first given permission to sell both conkers and cakes, but that other children had started to follow Allister's charitable lead.

We cannot have children selling willy-nilly Steve Eling Chair of governors

He said: "Consequently, with Children In Need approaching, the decision was taken that it would be far better if the school coordinated fundraising events - building on the enthusiasm shown by Allister and other children - to raise money for Children In Need, rather than having a number of uncoordinated activities.

"It appears that some people could have got the impression from a statement from a teacher that a review of individual fundraising initiatives would be undertaken in the spring, and this may have led to a degree of confusion over what the school is intending to do."

The school governor added: "The school breaks up for half-term at the end of this week and, when pupils return from their holiday, there will be activities in school throughout November to raise funds for Children In Need.

"In this intervening period, I will be working with the head teacher to formulate a process for permitting and organising future fundraising activities in the school and I will make a clear statement on that by the end of November.

"This should prevent any future occurrence of what has happened this week.

"If there is going to be individual fundraising within school, there has to be some organisation.

"We cannot have children selling willy-nilly."