They said their children came home upset and distressed following the special lunch at Cockfield Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, on Wednesday.

Last night the school's headteacher defended the event, saying a Mother's Day lunch is held along the same lines every year.

"Pupils who were not able to bring someone enjoyed their lunch with staff,” said Kathryn Heatherington.

Katie Burton said her seven-year-old son Jack was one of the children who had to eat his lunch in a separate classroom because he had no father figure attending.

The mum-of-three said it was not the first time it had happened.

“Last year he was made to sit in a different room and it really upset him because everyone else had a dad there,” she said.

“So this year I went into the school to make sure it was not going to happen again. I was told they would not be and they would all eat in the hall together but he’s come home again saying he was put in a classroom.”

The 25-year-old added: “Other schools don’t have specific Father’s Day events but if Cockfield School want to, it should be one day a year for all parents.”

Kayleigh Howe said her daughter Mia, six, was also left out.

"My child had to sit in the classroom waiting for the other children just because she does not have a male role model in her life and I just think that's disgusting," she said. "Mia's dad is not in her life but some of the children's dads have died – it's like they're getting punished."

Cherylanne Lowther also complained about the event after her son, Cameron, was separated from the main group.

The 34-year-old said she was originally told the event would be held today and had made arrangements for either her partner or Cameron’s godfather to attend but then received a call to say it was actually on Wednesday, meaning no one had turned up as the ten-year-old’s guest.

“He thought somebody was going but no one turned up because we were told it was on Friday,” she said. “He was upset. It’s the fact that all the kids that could not have a male representative there were made to sit in a classroom."

Along with other parents, Ms Lowther is calling for the school to include all parents for a "bring somebody special lunch" rather than a specific day for mams and dads.

Cameron’s aunt, Kirsty Lowther, made an official complaint to the school yesterday morning and said she also raised concerns last year but nothing was done.

“I went in last year to explain the impact it has on the kids,” she said. “It’s stirring up a lot of trouble.”

The 29-year-old added: “My main issue is that the kids were made to sit in a separate classroom – there’s no equality and diversity in that. It’s not right and we need to protect the kids from this.”

The mum-of-one said she felt the school could not “grasp” the concept of inclusivity.

“It’s 2018 and about time that the school got with the times,” she said.

Kathryn Heatherington, headteacher at Cockfield Primary School, said: “Alongside many other schools, we invite all pupils to bring a dad, uncle, grandad, brother or even a male friend each year on Father’s Day for a celebratory lunch.

"We do exactly the same each Mother’s Day when children can bring their mum, sister, aunty, grandma or a female friend – both are very popular with the pupils and those they bring with them.

“On this occasion, due to the sheer number of people present and the size of our dining room, arrangements had to be made for some people to eat elsewhere in the school and pupils who were not able to bring someone enjoyed their lunch with staff.”