There is hope that this evening (Wednesday, 3 March) that Dengie parents will not now face having to send their children miles out of area to school.

There was an outcry on Monday when Essex County Council allocated secondary school places - with some children living in the Dengie area receiving places as far away as Brightlingsea and Rochord.

In a statement released this afternoon, Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: "I have today met with Councillor Ray Gooding, Cabinet Member for Education, and Clare Kershaw, Director for Education, at Essex County Council.

"This was a productive meeting and I am pleased that they agree that these allocations are impractical as well as costly.

"The Dengie is served by two secondary schools, Ormiston Rivers and William de Ferrers. While both are full, officials are urgently exploring with the schools ways of increasing capacity to allow a bigger intake this year.

"I am confident that on this basis parents will not be expected to send their children out of area.

"The county council has promised to be in contact early next week with further information for all those parents affected and I am grateful to them for acting so swiftly to correct what is clearly a mistake."