A DAD is furious with a Yate school for punishing his daughter for being late – because his potentially fatal disease means he can no longer drive her there.

Aaron Holpin, 43, said Yate International Academy (YIA) had given detentions to his daughter Harriet, 12, for arriving late.

Mr Holpin, from Tytherington, has Buerger's Disease and can no longer drive, and said he has had to ask a friend to give his daughter a lift to school as there is no other way for her to get there.

As his friend works, he can't always drive Harriet to school on time – and he called YIA's leaders heartless for not being more understanding.

However, YIA told the Gazette that staff had repeatedly tried to meet with the Holpins to find a solution to the issue but the family had not co-operated.

Mr Holpin was so angry that he took his daughter out of school at the end of April and only allowed her to return on Tuesday this week.

He claimed that teachers used to allow Harriet to be late but, after a new headteacher and deputy took over in February, the school became stricter.

Mr Holpin, a father-of-seven, said: “She had been getting in late a few times and before the new leadership this was fine, but now it is seen as not acceptable and she has been getting detentions as punishments, even though it is not her fault.

“I am absolutely fuming and I think it is disgusting the way we are being treated."

Mr Holpin said he had sent Harriet back to YIA "with hope of no more hassle" but would move her to another school if she was punished for being late again.

"Now I feel it is a case of either staying with YIA if they become more lenient, or finding another school so it doesn’t happen again," he said.

“I want to keep the girls there, just with 10 minutes or so of flexibility without the fear of being penalised."

YIA deputy principal Paul Skipp said the school had tried to find a resolution with Mr Holpin and Harriet.

"YIA are committed to helping families in need and as a result we employ a dedicated inclusion manager, attendance officer and SEN [special education needs] workers to engage families to ensure every child is provided the best educational opportunities available,” he said.

Mr Holpin was diagnosed with Buerger’s Disease, a rare disease of the arteries and veins, in May last year and said he is a "ticking timebomb and terminally ill”.