Books depicting either a fat or thin girl called Alfina as the central character elicited similarly polarised responses from a second group of 150 reception and year one schoolchildren.

BBC: Children shun fictional 'fat Alfie'

Research for the group suggests London faces reception place shortfalls of more than 18, 300 in total by 2014.

BBC: England infant class size rises

Deputy reception manager Helen James said a large group from Europe, due to arrive two days after the terror attacks, had cancelled.

BBC: Tourists shun Shakespeare's birthplace