THE Houston family are ready to take off to Europe in the latest step of their campaign to get their son Liam a place at Lytham St Annes Technology College.

Liam's dad, Mick (pictured), is preparing to go to the European Court of Human Rights in a case which has been given the title Houston Versus The United Kingdom.

Mick, currently preparing his case, said: "Its a great title isn't it? No-one in the United Kingdom has the power to sort this out so I have to take my case to the European Court in Strasbourg to try to get a result."

Liam's story was featured in the Citizen in June after he was told he could not attend his local school because there are no places and must therefore travel to Tulketh High in Preston.

Mick said: "We still have people coming into our shops saying they read the article and that they are disgusted."

A written reply from MP Michael Jack shows his support of the Houston's campaign. He says in his letter that he agrees Tulketh High, offered to the Houstons as an alternative to the already over-subscribed Technology College, is a "wholly impractical suggestion".

Lytham Councillor Bill Thompson also sympathises with the case and commented: "Personally I think we need to build a new secondary school in South Fylde to cope with numbers.

"Now assisted places at private schools have been abolished by the government the situation can only become worse."

At a meeting held by Lancashire County Council last week the problem of the Fylde's overcrowded state schools was addressed.

Calls for an all-party members meeting with Education Secretary David Blunkett were rejected in favour of an amendment to advise parents of rising numbers meaning a possible change in admission procedures.

During the meeting a petition, requesting urgent action from the council and containing more than 1,000 signatures, was presented.

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