A MOTHER is keeping her 13-year-old son off school after he was sent on a cross-country run in winds of up to 65 mph.

Trees, telephone lines and fences came down, while Dorset police warned motorists not to travel in the driving rain and hazardous conditions on Tuesday.

But children at Ferndown Upper were sent out into the storm.

Julie How remonstrated with headteacher Dr David Howard who has defended his staff's decision.

Mrs How of Pomona Close said Ashley had come home shivering and crawled under his duvet.

"I'm keeping him off 'til his PE kit is dry and that'll be a week 'til his trainers are usable," she said.

"He came home shivering, he couldn't get warm but he felt boiling hot.

"It was belting down and he wears glasses and couldn't see.

"He couldn't get dry and he had no towel because he wasn't expecting to be sent outside.

"He had to put his dry clothes on his wet body.

"I went to see the head who said it was reasonable weather to send children out in but there was a severe weather warning out.

"I stormed out I was so annoyed.

"The weather was not fit to go outside.

"It was diabolical to send children out in that torrential weather."

However, the school disputed Mrs How's description of the weather conditions.

Deputy head teacher Derek White said: "It was 12 o'clock - the bad weather didn't set in till the afternoon. There was a light drizzle only and no wind - a lovely day for a run.

"The boys were actually meant to play rugby but because it was rather cold we felt they would benefit more from a short 20-minute cross- country run.

"Our games teacher is very experienced and has been involved with cross-country running for 20 years.

"They took warm showers afterwards so if anything I think the reverse of what Mrs How says actually happened."