A HAMPSHIRE MP will today meet with furious parents to discuss school place shortages after their children were turned down from their local primary.

Mike Thornton will meet with the families of a dozen youngsters who have not been given a spot at Hamble Primary School.

The Eastleigh MP will hear of the difficulties they say they will face getting their children to school as a result.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, although these families live in the catchment area, education bosses at Hampshire County Council say demand has outstripped the number of places available due to a “bulge year”.

And appeals against the decision proved unsuccessful.

The 12 children have instead been offered places in Bursledon.

Families affected, who say they are “devastated”, have told how this will mean a half-hour round trip to get their children to school.

Many of the parents cannot drive and one family has a sibling who is already a pupil at Hamble.

They fear due to the lack of public transport this will make it impossible to get their loved ones to lessons on time.

One parent has even told how she was considering moving to Bursledon.

Although education chiefs offered to provide a taxi service, this was rejected.

The parents want to see expansion of Hamble Primary School and argue that this will help cope with growing numbers as a result of development in Hamble.

However, Hampshire County Council’s education boss Cllr Peter Edgar said taking such a step would destabilise other schools and lead to spare places at the school, because the numbers in future years would not be as high.