Greenwood Academy pupils were made to bleed through clothes after teachers refused to allow menstruating students go to the toilets, it's been alleged.

Speaking to the Times, pupils claim they and their friends have been denied access to the toilet whist on their periods.

Students have also alleged that there are no free sanitary products available in the school - and that sanitary bins are rarely emptied and are surrounded by flies.

In response to the Times' previous article about school toilets being closed - something which North Ayrshire Council denied - pupils have added that not only are toilets rarely in use but that when they are open they “stink.”

One pupil said: “I’m a fourth year student and the time I have been here the toilets have always been locked.

“We were visited by inspectors who also noticed the locking of the toilets and confronted our school about it, but no changes have been made.

“We are not allowed out during class. Once I had bled through my clothes due to my period and I was denied access to the toilet.

“Our changing room toilets were smeared in urine and faeces and our sanitary bins are never emptied.”

The same pupil claimed  they rarely saw any janitors in the school.

According to another Greenwood pupil, their friends have had to leave school, missing out on classes, to get access to a toilet and sanitary products.

A third pupil claimed that they were refused toilet access because they didn’t have a toilet pass – something only given out to pupils with medical conditions.

They added: “I asked to go to the toilet and my teacher asked if I had a toilet pass.

"When I said no, she then said to me ‘I can’t let you go’.

“This happens often. People have started just walking out the class to go to the toilet, but they are still locked - and when they are not, they are dirty, with no toilet roll and soap.

"They never empty the sanitary bins which makes the toilets stink - there are even flies.

“The only toilets that are ever open are the disabled ones and they are horrible. They smell and have pee all over the floor.

“I had supported study, so I went down the stairs to check the toilets, and they were shut - which meant I had to walk home to go to the toilet and I missed supported study.

“There are never any period products.

“There has been poo and pee on the floor and doors, and most of the toilet doors don’t even lock.”

Pupils say they have contacted the school with their concerns, but no action has been taken.

Responding to the allegations, North Ayrshire Council apologised and said they will make sure period products are refilled - but they insisted pupils can always access toilets, in contrast to the claims brought to the Times.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Greenwood Academy has a number of toilets within the building, some of which are open all day and others which are opened at particular points throughout the day. All pupils have access to a toilet at all times.

“The school will remind pupils of this information to ensure all pupils are aware of what toilets they should use throughout the day. This information will also be shared with parents.

“There are dispensing machines for period products in all toilets and the staff will ensure that these are checked and replenished throughout the day.

“There are also additional period products available in the main office, guidance offices, depute head teacher offices and the medical room for pupils to access discreetly.

“The school apologises for any upset caused over the toilets and is committed to continuing to ensure that pupils are provided with sanitary products and access to toilets at all times.”

The council had previously denied the claims that toilets were inaccessible.