Thousands of children will miss classes because their schools are being used as local election polling stations.

More than 30 schools across Sussex will be closed next Thursday, May 3, because they have been commandeered by councils to host the ballots.

Parents of pupils at the schools have spoken of their anger at the move, which will mean most of them have to take a day off work as well.

Pamela Westmore has a son in Year 8 at Patcham House Special School, in Carden Avenue, Brighton.

She said: "I am very unhappy about this. Surely there is another building that could and should be used for polling day."

Patcham House is one of 15 schools in Brighton and Hove which have been forced to close to fit in with election arrangements. Most are primaries and have opted to use the day as an Inset, used for staff training.

Staff at Patcham House said they were as disappointed as the parents that Brighton and Hove City Council had chosen to use their buildings.

In a letter to parents, deputy headteacher Susan Yates said: "We have explained the difficulties of using the school as a polling station but have been told that the school buildings must be used.

"Many of our pupils have anxiety-related/emotional needs. It is not possible for members of the public to enter the premises and vote without potential contact with pupils."

The school pleaded with the council to find a different site but with no success. The council said it had investigated alternatives but none were suitable and available.

The Brighton and Hove primary schools being used as polling stations are Balfour Junior, Bevendean Primary, Carlton Hill Primary, Coldean Primary, Coombe Road Primary, Cottesmore St Mary's RC Primary, Downs Infant, Hertford Infant, Middle Street Primary, Queen's Park Primary, Rudyard Kipling Primary, St Paul's CE Primary, West Blatchington Infants and Westdene Primary.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "Schools are specified in the Representation of the People Act as being appropriate places for polling stations because they are large, well known public buildings that are generally accessible to the local community."

Other polling stations will be in community halls, churches and sports clubs.

Nine schools in West Sussex will be closed along with 12 in East Sussex.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council, which is not holding any elections but is responsible for schools in the county being used for district and parish elections, said: "Election organisers do as much as they can in terms of not making schools polling stations but sometimes they have to be used."

The West Sussex primary schools being used are Downsbrook Middle, Durrington First and Elm Grove First in Worthing, Halsford Park in East Grinstead, Heron Way Primary and North Heath Community Primary in Horsham, Northgate Primary in Crawley, Portfield Community Primary in Chichester and West Lavington CE First in Midhurst.

Will the school closures affect you? Will you have to take a day off work to look after your children? Leave your comments below.