The parents of a little girl who was refused admittance to a bouncy castle on account of the fact she was wearing glasses have slammed organisers of the Irn-Bru Carnival in Glasgow.
Christine and Martin Rooney have expressed disbelief that their five-year-old daughter Gracie was forbidden from playing within the inflatable attraction on supposed health and safety grounds.
Upon learning that her daughter would be required to remove her glasses in order to prevent potential injury during play, Christine insisted her child would be at greater risk if she was to remove her glasses.
Speaking to The Mirror newspaper, Christine recalled the incident, saying: "The guy said it had something to do with insurance. We couldn't believe it. She can't see without them and we were forced to turn back."
The couple, who paid £50 for a family ticket to the carnival, approached organisers with their grievances and insisted that festival guidelines made no mention of any such rule.
Responding to the family's request for an explanation, Fran McIntyre, managing director of QD Events said: "We apologise for disappointing the Rooney family."
Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, Ms. McIntyre outlined the carnival's guidelines, saying: "In line with health and safety regulations, our policy is that children are not allowed on any inflatable rides while wearing glasses."
The incident, which has come to the attention of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, has raised question with experts in the field who assert there exists no evidence that wearing glasses increases chance of injury.
According to The Mirror, Barry Duncan of the ABDO saying: "It causes me great concern that companies have come to conclusions without consultation."
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