PARENTS fear there may not be enough places for their children at a village school this September.

Mothers and fathers in Coxhoe are calling on Durham County Council to provide extra classroom space to ensure all the youngsters who want to go to Coxhoe Primary School can get in.

The parents say about 36 youngsters are looking to start at the school in September, but they have been told there are only 30 places.

They are concerned that some youngsters will instead have to leave the village each day to attend neighbouring schools, such as West Cornforth Primary.

One mother, who hopes her four-year-old son will get a place in Coxhoe, said: "We have been told that the intake for September is 30 due to Government legislation on classroom sizes.

"Coxhoe is a very up and coming village - there has been a lot of housing development - and there are 36 children looking for places. It looks like six may be turned away.

"The parents are getting together to let people and the county council know of our problems.

"Some parents already have a child in the school and are worried they will not be able to get the other in.

"The criteria for admission is how near the school you are. People living further from the school may not get their children in.

"I want my son to get to school in the village. I don't want him to have to travel by bus every day.

"We'd like to see the council provide extra classroom space so everyone can get a place - a few years ago they had prefabs - but they don't seem willing to spend the money.''

A county council spokesman said: "We'll have a very careful look at the case that is being made by the parents who are concerned about admission levels at the school.

"While we can't give any guarantees, we'll look very closely at the options open to us to see what can be done."

The parents will discuss the issue at a meeting at the village's Black Horse pub, tomorrow, at 7.30pm