A PLUMSTEAD school has had a rethink on changing the name of its Christmas fair following meetings with parents.

Mother-of-three Michelle Stacey started a petition after Greenslade Primary School, Erindale, decided to call its annual celebration a winter fair this year.

But after meetings with parents today, headteacher David Ashley agreed to rename it a festive fair as a compromise.

Ms Stacey, whose petition attracted 72 signatures, has acted as both an elf and Mrs Christmas for the grotto at the school in previous years.

The 38-year-old, of Erindale Terrace, Plumstead, has now accepted the compromise.

She said: "This is a tradition that's been going for thousands of years and we can't just change the name."

Ms Stacey had said if the name was not changed back she would boycott the fair and picket outside the gates.

But Mr Ashley stressed the school would still be having lots of Christmas events including parties, dinner, a trip to the pantomime, decorations in the school and a visit from Father Christmas on the last day of term.

He said: "The idea was with all the other Christmas things happening it would be one event that all our children would have been able to come to."

Mr Ashley said there had been problems with some children attending the event when it was called a Christmas fair.

Associate minister at the Slade Evangelical Church, Plumstead Common, Chris Statter said he was not happy that the name had needed to be changed.

He said: "People from all religions would say it's fine if you're not making people perform a religious act against their will.

"I don't think anyone would be or should be bothered by it.

"It seems like they're trying too hard to be politically correct."