PARENTS in West Swindon are campaigning for more secondary school places so their children do not have to be bussed to other areas of Swindon.

The group, Parents Improving Education (PIE), has been collecting signatures for a petition to the council after 143 pupils were turned away from Bradon Forest School in Purton and Ridgeway School in Wroughton. Greendown School, which would normally take pupils from the area, is nearing its full capacity of 240 places.

Andrew Hill, 36, of Pearle Road, is chairman of PIE and joined parents at the West Swindon centre on Saturday to collect signatures. He said: "We want two things done to ensure Greendown gets the capital funding it needs to expand so it can take on an extra 30 pupils, and for Swindon Council to sit down with Wiltshire County Council and decide to fund extra places at Bradon Forest."

Rebecca Martin, 10, goes to Brookfield Primary and has not been given a place at Bradon Forest School. She said: "I'm upset because I'm probably not going to the same school as my friends."

Christopher Hill, 11, goes to Salt Way Primary and is in the same situation. He said: "I am annoyed because I will have to go to secondary school that I don't want to."

Parents in the West Swindon area who have yet to find a secondary school place for their child should contact Andrew Hill on (01793) 871825 or log onto www.parents.fsnet.co.uk.

I think the council should spend more money on schools. They have lower spending than rival towns around the M4."