I AM writing on behalf of the remaining children who are still fighting for a place at their first-preference school, Mansfield High, at Brierfield.

For the past six generations my family, both on my mother's and father's side, have attended Mansfield as the primary schools in Briercliffe are its traditional feeder schools.

Unfortunately, we have been turned down and therefore had to have private tuition by three wonderful teachers, to whom we are very grateful for their time and effort over the last three months.

I find it hard to understand, being only 11 years of age, why nearly all my friends have got in at this school and I and three friends haven't.

I hope I get a place at Mansfield as, over the years, it has served our village well.

LAUREN RIDINGS, Burnley Road, Briercliffe, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.