A teenager may be forced to catch two buses to get to class - because there are no places in schools just minutes away from her home.

Samantha Timms, 13, who suffers from dyslexia, has been offered a place at the Thorpe Bay School, Southend - which is about six miles from her home in Eastwood.

Plea - Samantha Timms, faced with a long trip to school Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Her father Steve Timms, of Belgrave Road, Eastwood, began to look after Samantha when she moved to the town from Hartlepool to be with him.

Mr Timms quit his job as a lorry driver so he could focus on getting Samantha into a nearby school.

However, so far the only place offered is at the Thorpe Bay School.

Mr Timms said he wrote to Eastwood School, in Eastwood, six weeks ago and has still not heard anything back.

A spokesman for the school said the application was only received a week ago and staff "will be in contact and we will try to do something to accommodate his daughter".

Mr Timms also wrote to Prittlewell School two weeks ago, but received a letter on Monday saying there was no places and he would have to go through the appeal procedure.

He said: "I've had to pack up work because I can't leave Samantha at home by herself but we just keep hitting dead ends."

A Southend Council spokesman said: "Eastwood School is its own admissions authority, but we know that Prittlewell School is completely full up.

"Samantha Timms's father has got the appeal paperwork and the council are working with him in this."

Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003

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