DELIGHTED parents are celebrating after education chiefs made a dramatic U-turn this week to allow 19 children to attend Ely s Lantern Primary School from September. The five-year-olds were facing a three-mile round trek to their classrooms after educatio

DELIGHTED parents are celebrating after education chiefs made a dramatic U-turn this week to allow 19 children to attend Ely's Lantern Primary School from September.

The five-year-olds were facing a three-mile round trek to their classrooms after education officers got their sums wrong and failed to predict the demand for places.

Parents were told the children would have to travel to Spring Meadow Primary School on the other side of the city.

But on Tuesday, education officials at Cambridgeshire County Council climbed down and said 19 extra places would be offered at the Lantern Primary School.

The decision was made following detailed discussions with headteachers.

Councillor Shona Johnstone, Cambridgeshire County Council cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "We listened very carefully to the concerns expressed by a number of parents and I am pleased we have been able to resolve this so quickly.

"It is the right decision and is in the best interests of the children concerned and their families. I am also very pleased that the other headteachers were involved in the process and were supportive of the decision."

Parent Chris St John, whose four-year-old son has just been offered a place, said: "I am delighted and so is my son. Common sense has prevailed.

"It was good of the county council not to drag out this situation. They could have made it difficult for us but they have put up their hands and that was the sensible thing to do.

"This decision will certainly make life easier for me in September but, more importantly, it will make it easier for my son.