PARENTS campaigning to have their village school extended have said they are still disappointed, despite securing a major victory.

The Coxhoe parents met with Durham County Council officials after the authority agreed to pledge £110,000 to adapt the school to accommodate five extra children, in September.

However, the parents in the campaign group Coxhoe Kids in Coxhoe School were disappointed there were no plans to accommodate all the village children.

Spokesman Paul Dodsworth said members of the group had met with council officials last Thursday.

He said the council has no long-term plans to accommodate children presently on the waiting list.

Mr Dodsworth said that although 35 children will be able to attend in September, 44 youngsters will be seeking admittance in 2002, and there will be 52 children in 2003.

He said: "People within Coxhoe should be alarmed that the county council are spending such a large sum of money with no long-term plans to accommodate the children of Coxhoe in their village school.

"We see the county council's proposal as a short-term fix to a very emotive social issue and confirm our intention to continue our campaign until a satisfactory resolution is put in place."

No one was available for comment from the county council yesterday. However, last week a spokesman indicated that the authority was prepared to ask the Department of Education and Employment to reconsider its refusal to fund an extra teacher and extra classroom space.

The Coxhoe action group will hold a public meeting at Coxhoe Workingmen's Club on Saturday, March 3, at 11am