HOT cross bun headteacher Tina Jackson today told the Evening Star of her shock and distress at hate mail she has received from all over the UK. Miss Jackson, head of The Oaks Primary School, in Aster Road, has met with nationwide criticism after the school asked suppliers to remove the cross on the traditional treat as it was not yet Easter and might offend religious minorities.

HOT cross bun headteacher Tina Jackson today told the Evening Star of her shock and distress at hate mail she has received from all over the UK.

Miss Jackson, head of The Oaks Primary School, in Aster Road, has met with nationwide criticism after the school asked suppliers to remove the cross on the traditional treat as it was not yet Easter and might offend religious minorities.

In one letter a woman even warned Miss Jackson she might be beheaded.

She said: “I hope you never try to remove a symbol of Muslims as they would hunt you down and behead you.

“I hope that you never need to call on the help of Jesus in your life. God help you. May this action of yours haunt you for the rest of your life.”

A flurry of letters and e-mails have also included calls for Miss Jackson to resign and branded her as 'idiotic' and “a twit”.

One e-mail said: “I believe you have recently taken a step in order to avoid giving offence. I hope that I am very far from being the only one to contact you about offence given. Your name is certainly mud on the internet.”

Another e-mail criticised Miss Jackson. The sender said: “You probably think you are promoting harmony, but you are actually persecuting those that enjoy hot cross buns. How far will you go? Will you stop cutting jacket potatoes into quarters so that it doesn't look like a cross? Come on. Wake up and get some realism.”

Miss Jackson said: “There was never any intent to offend anyone. We teach children to respect each other and other points of view.

“I am very shocked and upset that I have been subjected to hate e-mails and hate letters. Some of them have been really horrible and people have passed a judgement on someone they do not even know.”

The story, first published in The Evening Star, was followed up in a number of national newspapers prompting responses from all over the UK.

She added: “I have not imposed an outright ban on hot cross buns and we look forward to having them before we break up for the Easter Holidays.”

Does Miss Jackson deserve hate mail? Did she make the right decision? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk