Parents fear a complicated schools admissions policy may result in children living nearest to their comprehensive missing out on places.

School governors have spoken out against the admissions procedure for children starting secondary schools in County Durham, claiming it could result in children living next door to Wolsingham School and Community College, in Wear Valley, being turned away.

The local education authority, Durham County Council, gives priority to pupils from feeder schools who live a bus journey away from the school above those who live within walking distance of the school.

Parent governor Anita Atkinson says the policy could pose problems for the school next year, as Durham County Council has followed government guidelines in reducing yearly admissions at the school from 218 to 152 and some children may be refused places.

She said: "They've got rid of too many places by physically cutting the capacity in the school by demolishing the Prefabs and classrooms where subjects used to be taught have been changed into laboratories.

"This school has served the children of Wolsingham for nearly 400 years and now the ridiculous situation is that children from the village may not get in."

Chairman of governors at the school, Charlie Donaghy, said: "We are very bothered about the situation as governors. The reduction of supposed surplus places has been too drastic."

Local education authorities can devise their own admissions policies, but most, such as North Yorkshire County Council, give priority to pupils who live within the immediate catchment area of the school and in areas such as Middlesborough and Darlington, pupils can generally all reach their schools by walking.

But a representative from the National Union of Teachers said they were confident that good sense will prevail when the education authority calculate how to accommodate next year's pupils.

A spokeswoman for the local education authority, Durham County Council said discussions on accommodating next year's intake were already ongoing.

She said: "Children living west of Wolsingham are entitled to attend Wolsingham school. After next year, age groups do fall quite significantly in following years. For this coming year, we will be looking at ways of dealing with the numbers when we know how many want to attend Wolsingham School and in the meantime parents should not unduly worry."