Should photos be BANNED from the nativity? Mother provokes a furious debate after complaining that other parents took snaps featuring her child without asking permission (16 Pics)

The school nativity play is an annual event that every parent looks forward to.

But one mother has provoked a furious debate after questioning whether parents should be allowed to take photographs during the performance.

The Mumsnet user claimed the school had not asked for permission for pictures of their children to be taken, and that the issue had 'really ruined the performance' for her.

Some agreed that they would also have been angry if their school had not sought permission - while others suggested the mother was being 'selfish'. 

Meanwhile, several parents on the forum said she should contact the school if she had a specific reason for not wanting her son to be photographed.

Posting under the username MrsAnamCara, the Mumsnet user explained: '[There was] no mention of needing permission to take photos/videos. Nothing mentioned before the start of the actual nativity performance either. 

'The performance starts and several people whip their phones out and begin taking photos and videos but not of individual children, of all of the children on stage.'  

She continued: 'It really ruined the performance for me, as I don't know these people who are taking videos/photos of my child, 

'I don't know where they will post them or send them to, I don't know who will see that photo or video.

'[Am[ I being unreasonable to think the school should have asked for legal written permission for all children's parents or guardians?' 

Some were quick to back up the mother, suggesting they wouldn't be happy with this either'. 

One wrote: 'Yanbu [You are not being unreasonable] at all. It's standard practice now in most schools to need written permission.'

Others suggested that the mother may have given 'blanket permission' for photographs of her child to be taken when he started at the school, while some said their schools asked parents not to post photographs on social media.

However, others slammed the mother for being 'selfish' and asking why 'every other parent and child should suffer' if she didn't want her child to be pictured.

One wrote: 'I videoed my kid in their nativity. Unless I'm expressly told otherwise, why the f*** shouldn't I?' 

Another added: 'I have no footage of my eldest in any of his school plays because of a ban of footage and photos because of someone objecting.'

One Mumsnet user meanwhile suggested that she should 'be proactive' and speak to the school if she has a safeguarding concern.