As the mercury continues to rise across Oxfordshire, teachers have yet to be given the go-ahead to apply sun block on children.

Child protection issues have dictated that Oxfordshire County Council's policy on the application of suncream is that it is put on in advance by parents or carers, or the children themselves.

But Michael Waine, the county council's cabinet member for schools improvement and former headteacher of Glory Farm Primary School in Bicester, said "common sense" should prevail in schools for as long as the heatwave continues.

One Oxford headteacher, Julie St Clair Hoare, of West Oxford Primary School, has already disobeyed County Hall guidance and written to parents saying teachers would apply extra sun block during the day unless they objected.

So far, no one has.

But last night Mr Waine told the Oxford Mail: "This is guidance to schools and my view is that headteachers will exercise discretion and common sense around it.

"We all have to be careful (in this weather).

"Headteachers have to deal with all sorts of circumstances that cannot necessarily be planned for and in the end, as in life, common sense has to rule."

Maxine Evans, headteacher of Rush Common Primary School, Abingdon, said: "This issue has been debated in our parents representative meetings and it has been agreed that the school should ask parents to apply sun lotion.

"The most important issue is making sure children are hydrated and making sure they take on board plenty of fluids."

The extreme weather has already claimed one casualty Stonesfield Primary School in Witney has cancelled today's annual sports day because of the heat and rescheduled the event for Monday.

Parent governor Russell Shearer said: "I support the postponement because children were at serious risk of sunstroke or dehydration."

* An animal welfare charity has renewed its warning to pet owners that dogs can die if left unattended in the heat even if you believe you have catered for their needs.

RSPCA chief veterinary officer Steve Cheetham said: "A dog left in a warm car, conservatory, greenhouse, caravan or shed will quickly begin to suffer from heatstroke and can die an agonising death. Leaving windows open and a bowl of water is not enough."