SCHOOL governors have called parents to a public meeting amid fears that village children will not be able to attend the comprehensive school on their doorsteps.

Thursday's meeting at Wolsingham Primary School, in Weardale, will hear protests about Durham County Council's admissions policy, which gives priority to pupils from feeder schools, living a bus journey away from the comprehensive, over those who live within walking distance.

Chairman of governors at the primary school Vere Shuttleworth said: "We could be looking at a situation where children being bussed out to another school from the village will be passing those from elsewhere coming in.

"It would be different if Wolsingham was a bigger place like Bishop Auckland with two or three schools, but in a rural area it is devastating."

Coun Shuttleworth said youngsters attending Wolsingham Primary School were once given automatic entry to the comprehensive.

He said: "This could no longer be the case and we are worried how this will affect the primary school."

Coun Shuttleworth said he felt that children from the village and Weardale should be given priority.

The local education authority policy has not posed any problems until now, but this year the council has followed Government guidelines and reduced annual admissions to the school from 218 to 152. Now parents are worried that youngsters living in the village will miss out.

But Durham education authority has reassured parents not to worry unduly, saying that it was in discussion with the school about accommodation and various possibilities for dealing with it.

A spokesperson said: "It looks as if we might have a slightly higher year group next year, but that is not to say it will be a problem.

"We won't know the numbers until all the processes of parental preference are complete.

"Parents should not be unduly concerned. You do get bigger or smaller years, there's nothing unusual in that and parents should not feel there is going to be a problem."

Letters have been sent to all parents of infant and junior school age children about the meeting, which starts at 7pm in the primary school