A COUNCIL leader has slammed the Government's policy of reducing class sizes amid a storm of protest from parents who fear they may have to send their children to schools miles from home.

Tory councillor Peter Britcliffe made his comments during a Hyndburn Council debate on housing developments.

The problem was highlighted by six families who wanted to send their children to St Oswald's Primary School, Knuzden.

Although they live in Knuzden and Oswaldtwistle, the families were told they may have to send their children to schools as far away as Rishton and Clitheroe after losing an appeal.

Coun Britcliffe added: "This has been made 10 times worse by the Government restrictions on class sizes to keep them at 30 children or below."

Coun Janet Storey said she opposed a new 89-house estate at Sefton Farm, Clayton-le-Moors, because primary schools in the town could not cope with the extra admissions.

Developer Barratt pledged cash to extend All Saints' CE school when it was granted permission to build the estate, but Coun Storey said it was not enough. Coun Dorothy Westell added: "We can't carry on building and building because there aren't enough places."

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