ANGRY parents fighting to get their children into Otley's Prince Henry's Grammar School are optimistic they will be admitted.

The parents of eight children from Bramhope went to the local government ombudsman after claiming appalling treatment from Education Leeds.

Despite children from Bramhope Primary School going to Prince Henry's for 40 years, parents were told the school was full and that they would have to go to other schools in Leeds.

The ombudsman is now carrying out a full investigation and according to parents will be able to insist that the children are admitted to Prince Henrys.

Paul Humphries, whose eldest daughter should have been due to start at Prince Henrys in September but has instead been offered a place at Ralph Thoresby School, Leeds, said: "We've been told we've got a good case.

"The ombudsman has the power to reverse the decision by Education Leeds and my gut feeling is that we will come out winners."

The ombudsman is currently interviewing parents, headteachers and members of Education Leeds and has told parents she expects to have concluded her investigation towards the end of August - just before the start of the new school year.

The parents argue that there is no reason why their children cannot be admitted. In past years the admission level at the school has been as high as 270, last year it was 240 and this year it has been set at just 216.

Earlier this week the parents had a meeting with Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds and Peter Ridsdale, chairman of Education Leeds - who they had met earlier.

A spokesman for Education Leeds said it was not able to comment while the ombudsman's investigation was taking place.