PARENTS battling for more places at a small village school are preparing to bombard education chiefs with letters as part of their campaign.

The parents want money spent to increase the size of Coxhoe Primary School, near Durham City, which they say cannot accommodate the numbers of children wanting to attend.

A total of 36 new pupils want to start at the school in September, but parents say there is room for only 30.

They argue that the school, which was built in 1908, should be updated to meet the growing size of the village.

Lack of places at the Cornforth Lane primary means children are having to go to schools in neighbouring villages.

About 60 people turned up at a public meeting in Coxhoe's Black Horse pub to discuss the campaign.

They resolved to each send a standard letter outlining their concerns to the education department at Durham County Hall. A petition is also being gathered in the village.

Action group committee member Tom Inman said: "The whole village is getting behind us, and the campaign is certainly gathering pace."

A fundraising committee has been formed and a disco is planned for February 8, at Coxhoe Club, to bring in money.

The group's next public meeting is tomorrow, at 7.30pm, in the Black Horse.