PARENTS living in Edgworth have vowed to fight on if education chiefs press ahead with controversial proposals to change the way their children are allocated secondary school places.

Since February, hundreds of parents having been protesting against plans which would see their children having to travel double the distance to school because they will no longer be guaranteed a place at Turton School.

Under the plans children with the shortest walking distance to the school will be given preference for a school place. This is despite since 1977, children who live in North Turton, which through boundary changes is now part of Blackburn and Darwen, have been guaranteed a place at Turton School following an arbitrator''s decision.

But now the proposed criteria planned by Bolton Council does not take that, or people's preference choices, into account.

Parents are so angry at the move that they have written to Schools Minister, Jim Knight, about their concerns.

The consultation process closed last week and now parents say they are "playing a wait and see" game until the admission code is published - and vowed if necessary to carry on their fight.

Father-of-three Paul Jackson, who lives in Edgworth, said: "There are no schools within walking distance to this village.

"Our children could be placed in any school in Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, and Bury.

"They will have no guarantee of a place at any school.

"We have so much support and certainly hope in this case common sense prevails."

He added: "We have no choice but to fight on if Bolton Council do not listen to our concerns and keep their proposals the same."

Mr Jackson says parents will appeal to the schools' adjudicator and take legal action if necessary.

Fellow parent, Claire Birdsall, who has two children Niamh, aged eight, and James, aged five, at Edgworth Primary School, said: "Who knows where our children will be placed?

"It is very unsettling.

"The irony is that the Government says parents should be given a choice of schools. This is being taken away from us."

Following the ending of the consultation, the admissions code to Turton will be published by April 15 and come into effect for allocating places for next September.