A ban on egg boxes and toilet rolls at a Sussex school has never actually existed, education authority officials have insisted.

For the past six years, Brian Davies has refused to permit the use of the items during art lessons at Wallands School, Lewes.

He believed he was acting on the instructions of East Sussex County Council and says the ban was issued during the salmonella scare amid fears about the possible spread of infection.

But now it seems the ban, which has attracted criticism from experts who say such a risk is extremely remote, may not have existed at all.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said yesterday: "If there was a circular sent out it would have been advice to schools and not an instruction.

"We have not been able to locate the circular but we are trying. The situation now is there is not a ban and there has not been a ban.

"If the salmonella scare happened today our advice to schools would be if the head has concerns, there are alternatives to egg boxes for art materials.

"That's not a ban. It would be the school's decision."

The news has been welcomed by Mr Davies, although he remains convinced he was instructed to ban the items.

He said: "We would never do something crazy like that unless we had firm instructions from the LEA and we would continue to do that until we were told otherwise.

"If it's the case that there is no longer a ban then I am looking forward to the council telling me that when I meet them next month. I will be the first to rejoice at being able to use egg boxes and toilet rolls in the school again."

Five other East Sussex headteachers contacted by The Argus yesterday said they were not aware of the ban but would not be surprised if one existed.

None of them would speak on the record. One said: "You can't blame Mr Davies for being cautious because so much is at stake with today's compensation culture.

"If I got such a circular I would not hesitate in banning egg boxes, as extreme as that may sound. You have to be careful to the point of paranoia."

Mr Davies said strict health and safety rules were an increasing part of the job. He said: "We have been advised to put signs on the flat roofs warning thieves who try to walk on them they might fall off and hurt themselves."

He said he was inundated with sales brochures from security companies warning he could be fined unless he takes expensive precautions to stop pupils from tripping over or shutting their fingers in doors.

John Tranter, a biologist with the Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services, which advises education authorities on science and health and safety issues, said: "We believe the risk of disease or infection caused by such items is absolutely minimal.

"There is no evidence we are aware of that disease has ever spread by the inside of toilet rolls or egg boxes."