PARENTS can now start applying for places for children due to start primary or secondary school in the next academic year.

Durham County Council is accepting 2018/19 school year applications from Tuesday.

Anyone with a child who was born between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2014 needs to complete an application form stating which primary school they would like their child to attend, even if they have an older child at the same school.

Application forms should also be completed for older children wishing to attend a junior school from September 2018, with the deadline for both of midnight on Monday January 15, 2018.

Anyone with a child who was born between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007 needs to complete an application form stating which secondary school they would like their child to attend.

The deadline for secondary school applications is midnight on Sunday, October 15.

Application forms are available at www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions, or by contacting school admissions, on (03000) 265896.