HUNDREDS of concerned parents have signed a petition calling for more primary school places in Abingdon.

Mothers Nicola Rowbotham, Fiona Colcutt and Emma Lonie were horrified when their children were refused places at every primary schools they applied for.

They decided to start the petition after they were all offered places at Thameside Primary School, which they have said is too far from their homes.

More than 260 people have now signed their online petition calling on county councillor for Abingdon East Alison Rooke to tackle the shortage of school places in the area.

Mrs Rowbotham, of Mattock Way, said north Abingdon schools need to create more classes.

She added: “When I found out, I bawled my eyeballs out. You expect your child to go to school in the area where you live.”

Inventory clerk Mrs Rowbotham said she applied for places at Radley CofE Primary School, Rush Common School and Long Furlong School for son James, four.

The 38-year-old said with rush-hour traffic, it could take her at least an hour to get James to Thameside Primary School each morning.

She said she has been told she must accept the place or risk James not being able to start school this September but added she would appeal and put her son on waiting lists.

She added: “It’s a massive concern. You try desperately not to talk about it in front of the children.

“I don’t want James to start school with any negativity.”

Oxford University Press supply manager Emma Lonie, of Pagisters Road, said she applied for the same schools as Mrs Rowbotham.

The 39-year-old said she is concerned she will have to change her working hours, along with husband Lorne Lonie, a researcher at the Wellcome Trust for Human Genetics.

She added: “That will reduce our quality of life because we will have to overlap our childcare.

“We will no longer be able to have dinner together and have a nice evening together.”

Mrs Colcutt, who lives in Sadlers Court, said she was offered Thameside Primary School after applying for Rush Common School, Thomas Reade Primary School and Long Furlong Primary School for son Cohen, four.

The Oxford City Council business support and data officer said it would take her an extra half an hour in the morning to drive to Thameside Primary School and is worried about getting to workher Oxford workplace on time each morning.

The 33-year-old added: “This is our children’s future and if the parents are not happy and the parents are stressed, that affects the children.”

Mother Laura Fathers, of Beagle Close, was refused a place at Rush Common School and Long Furlong Primary School but offered a place at Thameside Primary School for son Archie, four.

Earlier this month the 28-year-old said the school was a 40-minute walk from her home so she has rejected the place and will appeal.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “A large number of children were known to be due to start primary school in Abingdon this September and in order to ensure sufficient places, an additional class was created at Thameside School, which is rated Good by Ofsted.”