A RELIGIOUS campaigner from Harrow has raised a petition in protest against a sex education booklet for primary school.

John O'Neil is a volunteer for the Morality Forum, part of the Unification Church, commonly known as the "Moonies", which campaigns for "loving marriage" as the focus for sexuality.

The booklet, 4You Growing Up: What's It All About?, which is illustrated with line drawings, was produced by the Family Planning Association and is available from Harrow Council to any school, although none has yet ordered copies.

Aimed at children aged nine to 11, it offers information about puberty, sexual feelings and conception, and encourages children to talk to their families about such matters. It briefly mentions people having feelings for others of the same sex, and also covers masturbation.

Mr O'Neil has gathered more than 1,800 signatures opposing the booklet, although he admits that he has never seen a copy.

The petition says that signatories strongly object to the use of "explicit sexual materials" in schools and to "our council for recommending the use of the book describing masturbation and homosexuality".

Mr O'Neil said that sex education should take place in the home and believes that schools are "sexualising our children".

"Young people are confused about what's right and wrong because moral and spiritual values are now seen as irrelevant," he said. "Under 11, children's minds are not ready for this information."

A council spokesman said: "The leaflet appears thorough and clear, with relevant information. It needs to be used in a way that is sensitive to cultural and religious differences."

A spokeswoman for the FPA said that the guide had been created after consulting parents, teachers and pupils.

"We find it extraordinary that people are signing a petition about a booklet that they have never seen," she said. "We think children should have information about puberty before it starts, so they are not frightened or worried by the changes that take place."

Sex education was a joint responsibility of parents and schools, she added.

At Norbury School in Welldon Crescent, Harrow, a nurse visits years 6 and 7 twice a year to teach pupils about puberty and acting headteacher Maggie Chambers said it would not use the FPA booklet.

"It's far too explicit for our children," she said. "That kind of education should be done in the home.

"It's one thing if it's taught by a professional, and the teacher's there. It's another thing to have children looking at that booklet in the cloakrooms and having no one to discuss it with."

Elmgrove Middle School in Kenmore Avenue, Kenton, teaches sex education from years 4 to 7.

Deputy head Chris Homer had not seen the booklet, but said: "Sex education forms part of the science curriculum, but I think most teachers would say it is quite important to explode myths that children may hear from other sources."