FOUR children who were refused places at a Darwen primary school are celebrating after their families success-fully appealed against the decision.

The parents of the four children, who will now start at St Edward's RC Primary School in September, were originally told the 30 available places had been snapped up by Catholic children living and baptised in the parish.

They were told that despite all four of the families having other children at the school, they had failed to gain a place because their children were baptised and living outside the parish.

But the school did a U-turn after governors made extra resources available.

Deborah McSwiggan, 42, of Cranberry Close, Darwen, was delighted that her four-year-old son Connor would be able to join his 10-year-old sister Jessica at the school.

Mrs McSwiggan said: "I think mistakes have been made and lessons need to be learned. We are delighted with the outcome and each of our cases added to the whole appeal.

"Our case was based on the fact that we had been led to believe our children would get a place because they had siblings there.

"Some of the children had even been for inductions. Having said all that, I believe that Mrs Grundy, the headteacher, handled it in the best way she could and the chairman of the panel said he understood that as a Catholic family we wanted our children to go to St Edward's, especially with having a daughter there."

Shaun Leake, of The Sidings, already has nine-year-old daughter Katie at the school. He appealed against the refusal of a place for his three-year-old son Jack, who is four on Sunday.

He said: "I didn't expect us to win because of the strict class sizes but the appeal panel saw sense. It would have been impossible having children at different schools. Katie is doing very well both academically and in sport so we wouldn't have wanted to uproot her.

"We were led to believe that it would be possible for Jack to go to St Edwards. He had been for inductions and had his photograph taken for his coat peg but in the end we were told there were not enough places.

"I think throughout the appeal the school and headmistress always had the best interests of the children at heart."

A fifth child, who was initially refused a place, has since been allocated a place which became available.

Headteacher Alison Grundy today said: "We are delighted that the children are coming to the school as we didn't want to split up families. The governing body were very keen to make the resources available for the children and they have done that."