MORE parents are having to fight to get their child into the primary school of their choice.

The numbers of parents having to appeal decisions by Bolton Council over school places has shot up by more than 100 per cent compared to last year.

Tory councillors have branded the new figures cause for concern, and blamed them on the closure of schools in recent years, including Christ's Church in Harwood, which will shut this summer because of what the council claims is falling pupils rolls.

In Breightmet, Roscow Fold and Crompton Fold Primary were amalgamated in September to become Leverhulme Park Primary for the same reason.

Cllr Diana Brierley, whose constituency includes the school, said: "The figures are alarming. They have gone up a huge amount. I would very much like to know the reasons behind why this is.

"The increase seems to have come as schools are being closed. Closures are bound to have an effect."

Figures show that in the 2006-06 academic year, there were 47 appeals. This year, there are 120 appeals for primary school places in September.

Appeals for secondary school places fell slightly from 136 last year to 96.

Cllr Brierley said: "Parents just want to get their children into a good school which is close to where they live.

"The closure of Christ's Church CE Primary will be a huge loss to the community, with parents having to try and find places in other schools for their children."

She said the closure of primary schools made a "mockery of" Government policy.

"On one hand, the Labour Party wants to reduce class sizes and then it is closing primary schools," Cllr Brierley said.

Cllr Rosa Kay, executive member for schools, said: "We will be analysing these figures and trying to find the reason they have gone up in relation to primary schools and looking at ways we can reduce these figures."

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