THESE best friends can't look forward to starting school together, while one still fights to secure a place at their chosen primary.

In April, the Messenger exclusively revealed how four-year-old Liam D'Urso would have to get up at the crack of dawn and catch two buses to make it to his allocated Gravesend school on time - despite Higham Primary being almost on his doorstep.

After a gruelling and anxious two-month wait, mother Kate Brown received the news on Friday that her son had secured his place at the School Lane premises.

But a dark cloud still remains over little Liam's head, as his best friend, four-year-old Milly, is still on the waiting list, despite living just a 10-minute walk away.

Miss Brown, of The Braes, Higham, said: "Liam and Milly both go to pre-school together and get on very well. Liam wants to go to the same school as Milly.

"They will be really upset when they start school and find out that they won't be together."

Kate and Milly's mother Sarah Thomas were both "sickened" when they discovered their children had failed to gain a primary school place at their first, second or third choice schools.

Both were allocated Raynehurst School, in Cerne Road, Gravesend, six miles away from their Higham homes.

The news transformed their anticipated short stroll to school into an epic, hour-long journey on public transport as neither woman has the use of a car. Although things are looking up for Kate and Liam, Miss Thomas does not hold out much hope for Milly securing a place at school with her best friend.

Sarah, 37, of School Lane, said: "I was appalled when I found out that Milly had been allocated Raynehurst. It wasn't even on our list of choices."

After turning down Raynehurst, Milly has now been offered a place at a Medway school, but this will still mean a taxi journey.

Martha Payten, of Haynes Close, Higham, is also still anxiously waiting for a place at Higham Primary for her three-year-old son John-Terence.

After living in the village for more than 40 years, Mrs Payten was angry when she found out her son had not got into the local school. She said: "It has made me very upset.

"He is on the waiting list and we still haven't heard. It seems that you are penalised if you only have one young child."

Liam will start at Higham Primary School in September.