PARENT power is the weapon being used by a Kidderminster mum in her battle for more Government cash for district schools.

Sarah Beadsworth, a parent-governor at St John's CE First School in Blakebrook, is urging parents to send letters to education chiefs demanding fair funding for the county.

The move is part of a county-wide campaign triggered by news that Worcestershire comes 33rd out of 34 counties in a table based on education funding per pupil.

Some £300 less is spent on each primary school child and £500 less on high school pupils in Worcestershire than in comparable counties.

Mrs Beadsworth wants every parent in the district to sign a letter addressed to schools minister David Milliband calling for equal and fair funding. campaigning mum Sarah Beadsworth with a batch of protest letters.

"We hope to amass thousands of letters from across the county to present to Mr Milliband in the hope he will then understand the strength of feeling and the great injustice which is being done to our children.

"It's not just parents who should be concerned - it is an issue for the whole community. The children are tomorrow's workforce and we must invest in the future."

She added: "It is vital we let our voices be heard loud and clear. The Government turned a deaf ear to pleas for improved funding from teachers - it's up to us now."

In the funding awards for 2003 Worcestershire was allocated a rise of 4.2 per cent compared to Birmingham (7 per cent); Gloucestershire (5 per cent) and Dudley (7 per cent). Campaigners argue the county was already lagging behind after years of under-funding - and the gap is now widening.

Leading the campaign in the county is mother-of-two Helen Donovan from Evesham, who has the backing of Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff. She will present the protest letters to Mr Milliband at Whitehall.

Copies of the letters are available from the Shuttle/Times and News office in Blackwell Street, Kidderminster.