Schools in Sussex have been told they should get permission from parents before taking finger prints from pupils.

Privacy watchdog the Information Commissioner has told headteachers using new biometric technology that both parents and children should be fully informed what they are doing before taking data from pupils.

It comes after the Argus revealed that at least two schools in Sussex are currently taking finger prints from children for use with new library technology and that they have no legal duty to inform parents.

Children at Thomas a Beckett School, Worthing and Oriel High School, Crawley are using the biometric systems in their libraries and must swipe their fingers on a sensor before taking books out on loan.

Other schools across the country use the system in libraries and for taking registers. Both Sussex schools have informed parents.

However the finger printing has proved highly controversial among privacy campaigners and MPs who believe the data could be misused.

Some have also claimed the system will condition children to accept erosions of civil liberties.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner said: "Because this is a fairly sensitive area - because young people are going to be sharing their personal information - we are encouraging schools to adopt best practice and seek the consent of both pupil and parent."

Schools will also be reminded that they must not share the data with other organisations, the spokesman said.

They have also been told they should only hold fingerprint and other information "as long as it necessary for the purpose for which it is being processed".

The announcement is unlikely to satisfy campaigners who have been calling for a change in the law to ban fingerprint scanners from school premises.

Bognor and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb and East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton are among a large number of MPs who have condemned the technology.

Mr Loughton claimed the data could be accessed by paedophiles to identify vulnerable children and said he had serious doubts what the finger prints would be used for in the future.

He said: "Iím very concerned this is another step in the surveillance society that has expanded and grown enormously under this Government."

A Department for Education and Skills (DfeS) spokesman said: "It is important to remember that schools have always collected personal information, such as registers and home addresses, on pupils for their own smooth running.

"They are well used to handling all kinds of sensitive information to comply with data protection and confidentiality laws.

"Parents should be engaged in all aspects of school life and it is common sense for schools to talk to them about this and all issues relating to their children."

The DfES said it does not have figures for how many schools are already using biometric data.

However, a web poll by lobby group Leave Them Kids Alone, estimated that 3,500 schools had bought equipment from two DfES-approved suppliers.