HUNDREDS of parents have signed a petition protesting against Southend Council's proposals to change primary school catchment areas.

The campaign was organised by parents who live in the catchment area for Chalkwell Hall infant and junior schools and now face having to send their children to other schools.

Mother-of-three Susan Luty, 44, of Westminster Drive, Westcliff, helped organise the petition after she realised her children, the eldest of whom is four, might have to go to another school about twice the distance away.

She said: "They propose taking five or six roads out of the catchment area for Chalkwell Hall. My children would be going to Darlinghurst Primary School. It is a good school, but it is twice as far and would take probably half-an-hour to walk.

"This just means that we would probably end up driving, which isn't an ideal situation at all."

Sally Carr, cabinet member for education, said the plans had been discussed with headteachers and governors and were now out for public consultation.

She said: "We want to hear from parents about what they think. The site at Chalkwell Hall is very tight, so the school wants to reduce its numbers slightly."

Under the proposals, Chalkwell Hall schools would have their admission figure reduced from 105 to 90 a year.

Blenheim Primary School would reduce from 80 to 60; Temple Sutton Primary School from 100 to 90; Porters Grange Primary from 80 to 60; Hinguar from 50 to 60.