CHILDREN could lose out on opportunities to play sports and go on school trips because of new European legislation branded a "dreadful cock-up" by New Forest MP Desmond Swayne.

Rules brought in by the European Parliament mean teachers who passed their test after January 1997 will no longer be automatically entitled to drive minibuses used to take youngsters out of school.

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said the additional test people would have to take would be a huge and expensive undertaking that would qualify them to drive not just a minibus, but a lorry.

Mr Swayne, who has raised the matter in Parliament, told the Journal: "This is a dreadful cock-up that will have very expensive consequences for our schools and may wreck many opportunities for youngsters completely."

He said he felt frustrated because people had approached him and asked how Parliament had made such a mess in making the new law, but that Parliament had not made the law at all.

We are increasingly governed by -people that we do not elect and who we cannot remove."

Chris Edwards, head teacher at Ringwood School, said the new rules could have a devastating effect.

She said: "The impact is going to be huge because the whole education agenda is about extended schools involving the wider community, and all that involves moving children and adults."

Miss Edwards also pointed out that PE staff tend to be younger teachers, who will now not be automatically able to drive pupils to sporting fixtures, a situation that would worsen as years go by and older staff members retire.

The new rules apply to anyone driving a vehicle on a commercial basis, but not to those driving for charities or voluntary groups.

It is not clear if there will be scope for workers such as teachers to get around the legislation by driving voluntarily rather than for work but Hampshire County Council is advising them not to take any risks.

A spokesman said: "This is European legislation over which we have no influence and while we are lobbying at Government level, we have to advise teachers that if they passed their test after 1997 and have not got a D1 licence then they could be prosecuted if stopped and, importantly, it could invalidate their insurance cover."