“I wanted to give the children the experience at least of running a race,” said Richard Lumsden, headteacher of Curledge Street primary school in Paignton, south Devon. “But we don’t have a playing field and can’t use other people’s because we have to pay for it. All we have is a crowded playground for our 600 pupils. We make sure the street is safe. A member of staff watches out for traffic.”

Five other schools in the area have the same problem, due to a shortage of land. One has disbanded its football team, and the others share playing fields.