CHILDREN living close to Chippenham's Abbeyfield School might not be able to go there.

Places for children starting at the London Road school in September 2002 have already been allocated.

It will be the first full year group with 180 pupils since the school opened in September 2000.

Parents have been told the maximum number of pupils accepted each year will be 180.

Now there are fears places will be over-subscribed and children living close to the school will not be able to get a place.

The school will eventually have a maximum of 900 pupils.

It is already proving popular and the likelihood is more children will apply each year than there are places for them.

Headteacher Trish Shubrook said: "This will be our first full year group since we opened.

"Our first year had 70 children, in September we took in 120, and next September we will have 180.

"Each year we will be taking in 180 which will be the maximum year group size."

Parents have to apply for secondary school places, and they were due to be informed before Christmas by Wiltshire County Council if their child had a place.

Mrs Shubrook said: "We have had far more applications than we anticipated.

"Most of our children come from Pewsham and the areas around the school, but we do have children coming here who live the other side of Chippenham, in Calne, out towards the motorway, and in Melksham."