FOUR Burnley mums involved in a protest over school places say they will go to jail if that's what it takes to get their kids a place at the school of their choice.

After staging a sit in protest at Habergham High School the mums have promised to continue their fight.

They are angry their children have been offered places at schools that were not one of their three preferences and that are too far from their homes.

Donna Wolfenden, 30, of Allerton Drive said: "We are not leaving it here. We have had one protest at Habergham and we are going to keep going and going until we get results.

"We will go to jail if we have to."

That sentiment was echoed by Nicole Freemont, Vicky Brown and Lisa Newton who protested with Donna yesterday.

The mothers are also worried that having their children travelling miles across Burnley to get to and from school could be dangerous.

Lisa, 31, of Radnor Avenue, said the row is having a detrimental affect on their home life. Those with more than one child say that having one child at school and one at home is upsetting for their children.

Headteacher of Habergham High Stuart Smith said that although he has no role in deciding who is picked for his school, he does sympathise with the parents.

He said: "The key thing is that it is beyond my jurisdiction. It is not an easy situation, but hopefully it will be sorted out by the powers that be."

Speaking about yesterday's protest at Habergham, Mr Smith added: "The parents came to make a peaceful protest. It was very polite and good natured ." Yesterday afternoon the four were granted a meeting with Terry Clarke from the Local Education Office.

After the meeting Donna said: "We got nowhere."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council reiterated that there is an admissions procedure for allocating places to secondary schools in Burnley like any other part of the county and it is clearly laid out to parents when they apply.