Kids at Adlington Primary school were handed plastic glasses normally used for protection in science lessons by headteacher Polly Broadhurst.

She was concerned that fragments of the horse chestnuts could fly into the pupils’ eyes and compromise the school’s health and safety standards.

She said: "We are quite an academic school and were determined the kids should have some fun – but to do it safely. In terms of wearing goggles we just considered it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I suppose it does really show that health and safety has gone over the top."

Youngsters had loved it though, she said, with many experimenting by baking, varnishing or caking in vinegar the prized nuts.

"We had to declare it a draw – they couldn’t smash each others’ conkers!" said Mrs Broadhurst.

Jake Gilfillan, 11, of Rainow, said: "It was great. I covered mine in vinegar so it couldn’t break. The goggles made it safe and I’ll wear them again next time I play."

But the policy has amazed older residents in the village.

Adlington father-of-two Peter Fancy, 44, who owns The Miners Arms in the village, branded the new safety concerns "an absolute farce".

"It’s a joke. We have a lot of kids coming into the pub, does this mean that we have to give them goggles to wear when they eat their peas?

"Or will we have to hand out shin pads when they use the pub garden for football? Where is it going to stop?

"I played conkers when I was a kid for years and years, I don’t ever remember anyone getting bashed in the eye from it.