Parents living less than a mile from their nearest school have been denied a place for their son after admission criteria shifts.

Last April, Hinchley Wood School amended its catchment area, meaning children who live within that area and attend one of four feeder schools will have priority, but children living within one mile of the school could still get a place.

The area includes Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood and the whole of Claygate. The feeder schools are Claygate Primary, Hinchley Wood Primary, Long Ditton St Mary's and Thames Ditton Junior schools.

Dom Clarke, who owns the Red Lion in Thames Ditton with his wife, said of the changes: "Both myself and my wife objected strongly against the changes as our son would be left without a local secondary school."

He said his son was unable to attend a feeder primary school but they believed he would still be able to obtain a place at a close secondary school.

Mr Clarke said: "We are exactly 0.9 miles from Hinchley Wood. Our son Woody has failed to gain entry to either Hinchley Wood or Esher High School."

Their son has been offered a place at Rydens Enterprise School, which was not an option the family wanted to take up.

Ben Bartlett, headteacher Hinchley Wood School, said: "We are aware that this is a very difficult time for families in the local area who have not been allocated a school place at the school of their preference."

Mr Bartlett said latest analysis of applications for year 7 in September, 2015, meant the school was likely to be able to offer places to people in the catchment area who did not attend a feeder school and lived within one mile of the school.