WORRIED parents have demanded action after police have been called to one of Burnley's new super schools 19 times since it opened five weeks ago.

They are staging a public meeting at Ighten Leigh Social Club, Padiham Road, today over the problems at the new Hameldon Community College.

The school, formed out of Ivy Bank and Habergham High Schools, was launched as part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme last month.

But since the start of term parents have claimed a number of incidents have taken place at the college, including: pupils being threatened at knifepoint knives disguised as pens being found near the school youngsters being bullied by pupils.

The headteacher declined to comment on the issues, but police confirmed they had been called to the college 19 times in just five weeks.

A police spokesman said: "This includes five assaults, six incidents of rowdy or nuisance behaviour, two thefts, one vehicle nuisance, one person being taken ill, and the rest were general call outs."

Victor Kay, 65, of Anglesey Avenue, Lowerhouse, whose grandchild attends the school, has organised the meeting after he said he was contacted by many concerned parents.

He added: "There has been knife threats and bullying and a lot of parents have asked to meet.

"The parents want to come together and thrash out something.

"One of the issues is internal security and whether it would be possible to hire security for inside the school.

"No-one seems to be listening and we just don't seem to be getting anywhere. A lot of parents are worried.

"People are getting a bit upset and are keeping their kids off school."

But when the parents' claims were put to headteacher Gill Broome, she said the concerns were confidential.

Miss Broome also said it would be inappropriate for her to comment on whether she would attend today's public meeting.

She said: "We are working with each of the individual families to resolve the issues.

"These things are confidential between the families and the school and it would be inappropriate for me to comment.

"We have policies in place to work with the parents."