THE majority of parents secured their first choice school for their children — but around one in five missed out on their top selection.

Parents found out which secondary school their child had been allocated on National Offer Day yesterday.

Figures show in Bolton 81.33 per cent — 3,107 — received the first choice school, 8.87 per cent, 339, received their second place and 3.61 per cent, 138 received their third choice.

A total of 224 — 5.86 per cent — missed out on all three choices and received a place at an alternative school.

The numbers receiving their first choice school were slightly down on last year's 82 per cent.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "This can be an anxious time of year for parents but we are pleased that the majority of applications have resulted in offers for one of their preferences for a secondary school place for their child.

"This year around 94 per cent have received either their first, second or third choice, which is on a par with last year.

"Each year the number of applications increase which can affect the number of first preferences offered and each borough is different depending on the size of the cohort and demand for certain schools."

He added: "We understand that there will be some disappointments on offer day but parents are given the opportunity to address their concerns via the appeals process. Parents will have received information on how to appeal, but no Bolton child has been left without an offer of a place at a Bolton school."

Nationally many areas of England have seen falls in the proportion of families winning a choice at a favoured secondary school, according to the Press Association's analysis of Government data.

Liverpool, in the North West, saw the biggest drop in first choices, down seven percentage points on 2015, while Hammersmith and Fulham, west London, had the biggest drop in overall preferences year on year, down 4.2 points.