ANGRY parents organised a petition to ensure that their children can be educated at the same schools as their brothers and sisters.

The petition is a protest against Bury education authority's refusal to give absolute preference for children to attend schools which their siblings already attend.

"We want them to reinstate the sibling policy," said petition organiser Clive Briggs, of Bankhouse Road, Brandlesholme.

"You can't have brothers and sisters going to different schools. Children should automatically go to the same school as their siblings. The local education authority says 94 per cent of parents are happy with school allocations but that just isn't the case.

"We need to get about 5,000 signatures for the petition to make a difference and we only have until October 23 to show councillors that we're not happy. We are struggling to get supporters in the Prestwich area."

Clive, who runs a laundry service, and his wife Amanda are anxious about the future of their ten-year-old son Adam who is in his final year at primary school.

"We only got our elder son, Scott, into Woodhey on appeal and we don't know what we'll do if Adam does not get a place there," added Clive. "Surely he should go where his brother is?"

To boost the petition, Mr and Mrs Briggs have been getting signatures from parents outside of local schools.