THE headteacher of a East Lancashire private school today urged parents to deluge an MP with letters in a bid to win support in a planning battle.

And Phil Mahon, principal of Oakhill College Whalley, said that the school was preparing to appeal against Ribble Valley Council's decision to refuse it permission to build a much-needed extension.

Last year, the school had an application for the a two-storey extension turned down.

It was the second time the school in Wiswell Lane, Whalley, had applied for permission to build the extension to provide additional classrooms, toilets and offices for the overcrowded faculty.

The extension would run over the site of an existing single-storey building. The application was refused in August because it was over-intensive, even though a much larger development was given permission in 1994 but the school could not get the funds together to implement it.

At the Ribble Valley planning and development committee meeting, a resident who lives in the neighbouring cottage spoke out against the project, claiming it would lead to her privacy being invaded because people would be able to look into her garden.

The chairman of the governors, Tony Baron, later revealed the school had even changed its timetable to try and accommodate the resident -- but still the application was turned down.

Mr Mahon said: "The disappointment of last term was the failure to be given planning permission for the new prep school building.

"I promised we would continue to fight for our application to be accepted. The wheels are now in motion to submit this plan to an appeal.

"I have written to Nigel Evans, our MP, to ask for his support and invited him to visit the school to discuss our application.

"I urge as many people as possible to write to Mr Evans to ask for support."

Mr Baron said: "These elected councillors, by denying our application, have temporarily thwarted our plans to improve college facilities for the benefit of the children. Could the parents ask them why?"