Schoolgirl, 4, left in tears after she is banned from annual class photo because her hairdresser father made a bow out of her hair

A four-year-old was left in tears after being banned from her annual school photograph because of her eye-catching coiffure.

Marcella Marino arrived to have her picture taken with fellow pupils only to be told that her long blonde hair, which was fashioned into a bow, did not adhere to the dress code.

Her hairdresser father, responsible for the updo, said he was shocked by the decision and that he was aiming for a 'simple but elegant style'.

The father-of-two, who owns Marcello’s Hair Salon in Ramsgate, Kent, said his daughter had asked him to make her hair ‘like a princess’ for the school photo at her reception class.

But when she arrived at the 210-pupil school she was told her hairstyle breached the dress policy, which outlaws braided hair.

Mr Marino, 42, said he was ‘shocked’ when his daughter returned home to tell him the news.

He said: 'Marcella asked me if I could do her hair like a princess for the school photo and I came up with a simple but elegant style, using her hair to make a bow.

'I thought it looked wonderful and Marcella loved it, but when she went for the school photo she was told she wasn’t allowed to wear her hair in that style because of the dress code.'

A spokesperson for the school confirmed that hair bands and ribbons must be ‘made of dark colours’ such as maroon, navy blue or black and that hair braids are ‘not allowed’.

Mr Marino, who is married to Yaice and has another daughter Amelia, three, said: 'All the children were told to look smart for the day and that’s why I decided to make a special effort, but in the end it has just caused tears.

'I am so disappointed - I could understand if Marcella arrived with her hair dyed or something, but this is an elegant look which I think the school should be proud of.

'It isn’t a hair braid, it is quite simply a knot in the shape of a bow, and I should know because I’m a hairdresser.'

The school has since notified parents that the photographs were cancelled as there had been a mix-up over dates, however the Marino family have been warned to refrain from putting Marcella’s hair in bow again for either normal class or for the school photo.

Mr Marino added: 'Marcella is so sad - she thought she looked like a princess, but now the school say it is not allowed.'