Unholy row as Catholic school in Australia 'rejects' boy called Hell

An Australian Catholic school is at the centre of an unholy row over claims it refused entry to a five-year-old boy with the surname Hell.

Alex Hell said St Peter the Apostle School, Melbourne, had welcomed his son Max when enrolled under his mother's maiden name, Wembridge.

But they baulked when the family had a change of heart over the surname.

School officials now say Max has a place, but Mr Hell claims they changed their minds because of media attention.

He said he would not now be taking up the school's offer.

Mr Hell claimed the priest refused to accept his son as Hell, and was told by the school's head he had "made a rod for your son's back".

"It's Hell. That's our name, it's our heritage," Mr Hell told The Age newspaper. "It's who he is, and if he wants to change his name at 18 then that's up to him."

Mr Hell has been quoted as saying the name is Austrian, and means "bright".