Picture a religious education teacher in Serbia. Do you, perhaps, imagine a stern orthodox Christian, dressed in black with a crucifix?

Wrong. It seems that mini-skirts and piercings are all the rage.

Indeed, their dress code has got so out of hand that regulations have been introduced banning RE teachers from sporting piercings, jeans and mini skirts.

Displaying their belly buttons has also been outlawed.

The regulations were imposed after complaints from the Serb Orthodox Church, which was unhappy with fashions among RE staff.

Archbishop Atanasije Rakita has also said that female teachers should not wear tight trousers or sport outlandish haircuts. And male RE teachers have been banned from colouring their hair, the Serb daily newspaper Politika has reported.