A teenager says he was disgusted to be ordered to remove his Help for Heroes charity wristband at school because it is classed as jewellery.

Former Army Cadet Kirk Browning, 16, who is due to join the Army in September, claims a rigid enforcement of school rules by the new head teacher at Community College Whitstable is draconian.

He said: “The school actively encourages us to support charities so you think it would be a good thing. And how can a simple rubber wristband in aid of such a good cause be considered jewellery?”

Military service is a long tradition in Kirk’s family and he plans to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles.

He said: “I have been wearing charity wristbands for years but there have always been school rules about not wearing earrings and other jewellery, which I understand and now they are being enforced more rigorously.

“But I think it is disgusting to be forced to take off a charity band which is made of rubber. They even took me out of class to tell me.

“If it wasn’t for those brave men and women that fought for our country and unfortunately had their arms and legs blown off, these teachers might not have the freedom to tell me to take my ‘jewellery’ off.”

Kirk, of Canterbury Road, Whitstable, posted the incident on Facebook and received a lot of supportive comments.

He leaves the school this summer and goes to Army Foundation College in Harrowgate.

Whitstable College has not responded to requests for a comment