A school has banned Pokémon after teachers said children did not understand the idea of swapping.

Queen’s Park Primary in Park Street, Brighton, banned cards featuring the popular Japanese television characters, adding that they should only be played at home with mothers and fathers.

The school said in a letter to parents: “Please can you ensure that your child does not bring Pokémon cards into school.

“Many young children do not really understand the concept of swapping cards, and this is much better undertaken at home, with parental supervision.”

It is not the first time a school in the UK has banned Pokémon cards, which peaked in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2000 there was a spate of Pokémon crime. On one occasion a Bristol toy shop was broken into and cards worth £300 were stolen.

Children obsessed with the cards were claimed to be responsible.

Wiltshire Police urged children not to go out with the cards and schools in Swindon banned them after two youngsters were held up at knifepoint for their collections and there were tussles in play- grounds.

In 2011, pupils at Heyworth Primary School in Haywards Heath were told they were no longer allowed to play with Moshi Monster cards because they were distracting them from their work.

In a letter the school said: “We have taken the decision to ban all playing cards, including Moshi Monsters cards, from the school site.

“Children have been bringing these collector cards into school and trying to swap cards during the day, which has caused much upset and disruption on the playground.”