VILLAGERS yesterday staged a protest outside the school they fear their children will not be allowed to attend.

Up to 60 parents gathered outside Coxhoe Primary School to highlight the plight of youngsters who may not get a place in September.

As The Northern Echo revealed last week, they fear that six children who are due to start their schooldays will have to find other places, because the school can only take 30 newcomers.

The parents have formed an action group to press Durham County Council to increase space and teaching staff so that all the youngsters can go to the school.

Action group spokesman Tom Inman said: "Feelings are running very high. This Government policy of having a maximum of 30 children in a class is a good thing.

"But if there is not enough provision for all the children that want places you will make some people unhappy. There has to be back-up, with more teachers and classrooms.

"There are 26 children from across the school spectrum on a waiting list to get in and are going to other schools.

"We only started the campaign six days ago and we can't believe how much support we have got.''

Mr Inman said the petition gained more than 200 signatures in one shop alone. The group meets tonight, at 7.30pm, in the Black Horse, when Nick Cartmell, Conservative candidate for Durham's parliamentary seat, will meet parents.

Durham County Council has said it will "look very carefully" at the parents' case but stressed it can give no guarantees.