PARENTS of 27 children who have been refused places at over-subscribed Whiteley Primary School have set up their own action plan and are ready to launch a mass appeal to education chiefs.

Of the 117 parents vying for one of the 90 precious places, 27 are having to find alternative schooling for their youngsters next year.

A shortage of places at the school has been an issue since 2002, when 34 boys and girls were turned away.

This year the next two nearest schools - Sarisbury Infant and Park Gate Primary - are also full.

The nearest school with reception class places available is St John the Baptist School in Titchfield Common - a round trip of nearly ten miles from Whiteley.

Now the parents have formed a support group in a bid to look at their own options.

They also hope to make a challenge to completely overhaul the admissions policy in Hampshire to help Whiteley parents in future.

Steve Collinson's four-year-old son Ben was one of those to miss out.

Mr Collinson, of Camargue Close, relocated to Whiteley from Gloucestershire in September 2003, partly because of the school.

He said: "We all chose to live in an area like Whiteley and we'd like to send our kids to the local school.

"We have a physical barrier called the M27 between us and all the other schools in the area.

"We are so disappointed, we live just under half a mile from the school. When a child is growing up part of the adventure of school is being able to walk there and back each day. My son won't have that opportunity."

Figures show there could be a demand for another 210 places by 2009, due to further housing development in Whiteley.

Fareham's civic leader and Whiteley resident Councillor Sean Woodward has called for a new school to be built in Whiteley to cope with demand.

He has pledged his support to parents who want to take the matter further.

Cllr Woodward said: "The problems are the same as they were last time. We need another school in Whiteley, it's as simple as that."

A public consultation is to be launched by county council chief Councillor Ken Thornber, who has still not ruled out the possibility of a new school in the area.

Alex Munro, admissions officer for Hampshire County Council, said: "Consultations will be taking place next term on the provision of primary school places in the area.

"Parents will be able to contribute to this debate and all proposals and suggestions will be carefully considered."

Whiteley Primary was built in 1997 and has 630 places for four-to-11-year-olds.