EDUCATION Secretary Charles Clarke has given the parents of Burnley a school places pledge -- but still left town being accused of failing to do enough.

The government's education supremo made the comments as he visited a new £1.2m state-of-the-art learning centre at Towneley High School and a sports learning scheme at Turf Moor.

Last week the minister - who visited the town after MP Peter Pike stood up in the Commons and asked the Government to take action over the annual rush for school places - was branded a "disgrace" after parents at the DIY school accused him of snubbing them during his visit.

A promised highjack of the visit by disgruntled families, who set up temporary classrooms when their children failed to gain a place at their first choice school, failed to materialise.

But even though he yesterday delivered a promise to visit the school, a spokesman for the DIY school he had not done enough to solve the problems and added: "We will be continuing the fight and will ask Charles Clarke to visit us again.

"This is something we will not give up the fight on."

Mr Clarke said: "I have met with representatives from the county council and with Peter Pike to discuss how we can best address this particular issue and everyone is working together to get a real step-change for people in the town.

"We need to ensure that the quality of schools for everyone is first class so that parents can be confident of the quality of education their children will receive.

"At the moment the quality is variable and we need to raise it so that we do not get into a situation where things like the DIY school are necessary."

He added: "I did not snub the DIY school and those parents should not take it as a snub that I have not visited them, but I did not receive a formal invitation.

"I would certainly consider a visit if I were to receive an invitation, although I do not want to raise expectations too high.

"Parents are entitled to do what they think is best for their children and it is our job to do what we can to raise the quality of education."

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.

There are currently four children at the school.

The problems centre on three schools; Habergham, Ivy Bank and Gawthorpe, where each year the schools receive more applications for places than they can take.

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

Mr Clarke spoke as he officially opened the City Learning Centre, which will provide a high technology facility for 15 schools in the area as well as community learning courses.

The new centre, which offers IT suites, a dance studio and radio studio, has been funded by money from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget and Lancashire County Council.

The minister later visited Burnley Football Club to officially launch the Playing for Success initiative which was set up as a pilot scheme 12 months ago to raise standards in literacy, numeracy and IT skills.

Youngsters aged 9-13 are chosen to take part in workshops using football as a learning tool, for example using the club shop for a maths lesson.