CHILDREN at Burnley's DIY School left to start their summer holidays yesterday, but a row over the distribution of places is set to continue.

The school was set up in the Valley Street Community Centre last year by parents when their children failed to gain a place at their first choice school and have pushed the authorities ever since.

The allocation of school places has been a problem in Burnley for a number of years, but education chiefs at County Hall have failed to find a solution.

The problems centre on three schools -- Habergham, Ivy Bank and Gawthorpe.

Each year the schools receive more applications for places than they can take.

Many parents, particularly those living close to the three schools, felt aggrieved at having to send their children to schools on the opposite side of the town.

Several of the children at the DIY School have been allocated places, but as the doors closed at the school yesterday, three remained.

One parent who did not want to be named said: "I don't think anyone expected this to go on for a full school year.

"If the three children we have left do not get school places the DIY School will carry on."

And the school spokesman gave this advice to parents who find themselves in a similar predicament this September: "It is hard and you will go through some hard times, but if parents keep standing up to the authorities things will have to change.

"Parents should stick together, just like we have."

A Lancashire County Council spokesman refused to reveal what it was doing to change the admissions problems in Burnley, but said: "A fresh set of appeals are due to be held this months for the children who have been taught at home by their parents for the past academic year.

"The appeals involve an independent panel which considers whether the pupil should be given a place at the school of their choice.

"The Local Education Authority is happy to give advice to any other parents who want information on the appeals process."