Anger at snub by minister

More than 1,000 parents from across Worcestershire have so far signed letters calling for fair and equal funding after the county appeared 33rd out of 34 counties for Government money per pupil.

Wyre Forest campaign co-ordinator Sarah Beadsworth described Mr Miliband's response as "disgraceful".

In his reply Mr Miliband suggested the protest letters be presented to Worcester MP Mike Foster as he is part of his team at the Department for Education and Skills.

Mrs Beadsworth said: "Labour used to have an allegiance with the common man - but this minister for one doesn't seem to have any time to listen to the people.

"However, this will not stop us - we are trying to find out if he would be forced to see us if a bigger delegation of parents was sent to Westminster."

The campaign was launched across the county by Evesham parent Helen Donovan, who said she remained determined to see Mr Miliband to argue her case and hand over the protest letters.

Mrs Beadsworth, a parent governor at St John's First School, Kidderminster, said more and more schools were joining the campaign and asking parents to sign copies of the letter addressed to Mr Miliband.

The protest is also being broadened to include councillors and businesses and has already been backed by Evesham Town Council and 90 business people in the town.

Worcestershire schools receive less money than other "better off" counties and this year's funding amounts to £2,987 per pupil compared to top-of-the-table East Sussex which is getting £3,313 per pupil.

Mrs Donovan made her request for a meeting through her MP Peter Luff and Mr Miliband sent a brief reply almost a month later.

He apologised for the delay in replying and said the "simplest thing" would be for Mrs Donovan to present her petition to Mike Foster.

A DfES spokesman was unable to say why Mr Miliband would not meet Mrs Donovan because he could find no record of the request.