SOME parents locked into a bitter dispute over strict discipline at a Carlisle secondary school have vowed to take their fight all the way to Downing Street.

Bosses at Richard Rose Central Academy said they will not bow to the demands of parents to reform the tough new rules - which include a practice known as “internal exclusion”.

Scores of children joined a protest outside the school on Wednesday afternoon.

The mood turned ugly, with some pupils lobbing stones, sticks, and plastic water bottles at the building.

Worried staff called in the police to restore calm.

Amanda Skelton, one of the protesting parents, described the new rules at the school as “ridiculous”, and said she and her friend Linda Collinson were determined to take their campaign to the highest level.

“I accept rules,” she said. “I was brought up to respect other people - but the rules at the school are getting ridiculous.

"It’s not just about haircuts and trousers. Communication with parents is non-existent.

“I feel so strongly about this that I’d take it all the way to Downing Street.” She insisted most other parents of the pupils agreed.

A spokesman for United Learning, which runs the school, said staff were determined do implement the new rules, insisting most parents support them.

He said the protest on Wednesday was “disappointing” and added: “It is sad that some students, egged on by a small group of parents, let themselves and the school down.

"We are wholly committed to the school’s behaviour policy and retain the support of the majority of parents and students.”