Angry parents unable to get their children into Orleans Infant School because of a lack of places are to ask the Secretary of State for Education to intervene.

It is the latest turn in a row between parents and school governors as the future of 24 children's education hangs in the balance.

In an emergency meeting between parents and governors a proposal for an overflow class was rejected.

Vice chairman of governors Sarah Freeman, said: "We have sympathy with the parents unable to secure places for their children but we are opposed to any proposal for a bulge class. We concluded that trying to accommodate the requests of a small group would mean disadvantaging the vast majority."

But disappointed parent David Young said: "We may have been turned down but we will carry on fighting.

"Contrary to the impression given by the governors we have had a lot of support from parents of those due to go in September and of those with children already at the school.

"There are good legal reasons why an extra class should be created. Richmond Education Authority and now Orleans governors seem either unwilling or unable to help us. We have now written to David Blunkett to ask him to intervene personally."

And now MP Vincent Cable has joined the debate on the side of the parents. In a letter to one of the parents Dr Cable said: " I do very much sympathise as a parent with your problem.

"I am myself urging the chairman of the education committee and his colleagues to make available an extra class."

Education committee chairman Councillor David Cornwell said: "We will go away and consider the problem afresh. The position is the Education Authority has an obligation to offer these children a place."

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