A mum with cancer has expressed her outrage after a school 'discussed' detention with her daughter for dyeing her hair pink as a tribute to her mum.

Laura Bailey, 36, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in June, said she was outraged by the treatment of her daughter Mia by Glenthorne High School, on Sutton Common Road, Sutton.

The school has described the situation as ‘a big misunderstanding’.

Mia dyed her hair after her mum was forced to shave hers off. She dyed it pink because that was the hair colour her mum used to have.

Laura said: “I got a text from Mia about the detention and she was really upset. I said not to go to detention. My child has been through enough.

“Nobody asked for the rules to be broken for her. I just wanted a little bit of compassion. There is a little girl here really hurting. If she was caught smoking or something, feel free, punish her. But Mia doesn’t get into trouble.

“The school should teach children a bit of compassion and that it’s more important than sticking to a rule.”

Glenthorne High School told Sutton Guardian that detention was only “discussed” with the Year 10 student and that no punishment was served.

Head teacher Mr Stephen Hume described events as "a big misunderstanding” and said the school was holding a cancer awareness event tomorrow lunchtime, October 5.

He said the school had a track record of supporting pupils.

Mr Hume said: “Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. We have been in regular communication with them and have been and continue to do everything possible to support Mia at school.”

He added: "Many pupils will be raising awareness and raising funds for breast cancer in solidarity with Mia and her family at this difficult time for her family by selling cancer wristbands in the playground at lunchtime and encouraging pupils to spray their hair pink for a donation to charity."

Laura, who was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in June, writes a blog about her cancer entitled The C Word.

She said: “There is little to no knowledge about the cancer I have.

"I still don’t fully understand what it is. I’m like a stranger in my own disease.

“I’m bored of chemotherapy," Laura said. "The Royal Marsden told me I’m curable. For me that’s all I’m focusing on.

“Cancer is horrific. But I was one of the lucky ones because I was diagnosed quickly. It wasn’t until I searched on Google ‘orange skin around the breast’ that ‘inflammatory breast cancer’ came up.”