CHILDREN as young as six are being pressured to wear coloured ‘sex bracelets’, horrified parents said today.

This follows calls to ‘ban the bands’ by community workers and teachers in Weymouth and Portland who say they are linked to sex acts, as reported by the Echo on Saturday.

The controversial multi-coloured bracelets, known as gummies, come in several different colours and are worn as a fashion accessory.

Mum-of-three Lisa Wills, 33, of Westham, Weymouth said her six-year-old was made to wear one by one of his school friends and is concerned that the bands are being worn by younger children.

She said: “I’m so glad the coloured bands have been brought to light because it’s not just affecting older schools.

“Two of my children are at primary school and one of them is only six – the other has just turned nine – and the whole primary school knows about the bracelets and are wearing them.

“I was absolutely horrified when my six-year-old told me what the bands were for and what the different colours mean.”

Miss Wills said she became aware of the problem two months ago when her friend Claire Moggeridge called and asked if she had heard about the bands.

Miss Wills said: “I sat my children down to ask them and they were able to give graphic accounts of what they mean. I was horrified.”

The parents brought it to the attention of Conifer’s Primary School headteacher immediately.

Miss Wills added: “We went straight to the headteacher and obviously she didn’t know what they were – she thought they were friendship-style bracelets. She was brilliant and banned them straight away.

“It’s not the school’s fault, I know a similar thing is going on in other schools as well.”

Miss Moggeridge, 30, of Westham, said her eight-year-old son cried as he told her what the bands meant because he did not want to wear them.

She said: “He was talking about quite vulgar things, although he didn’t really know what they meant. I’m concerned that some parents wouldn’t understand the meaning behind the bands, even though the school sent a letter home.

“I mean, we used to wear friendship bracelets at school but it’s the meaning behind these ones that’s the problem.

“We don’t want even one child to get coerced into doing something they don’t want to do.”

Headteacher of Conifers Primary School in Weymouth Rachel Hiscock said: “I did ban these bands as soon as soon as I was informed by parents of implications of these bands.

“For us safe guarding the children is paramount.”

n If you have concerns about the coloured wristbands contact newsdesk on 01305 830985.