Governors at a Brighton school say pupils' safety could be at risk because it is so full.

They are so concerned about the number of children attending Balfour Junior School they have written to admissions appeal judges pleading with them not to allow a breach of the 420 capacity, despite mounting pressure for places from parents.

Acting headteacher John Vousden said: "As a school, we don't like the situation. Basically, we're completely full up."

Classes of 35 children are being taught in rooms built for 30. In two classrooms there is not enough space for the teacher's desk. It is feared children would not be able to escape in an emergency.

Other overcrowding problems include:

A playground so packed break times have to be staggered
Kitchen staff who cannot cope with all the children in one sitting
A library not big enough for a computer
Cramped classrooms which will soon be unable to accommodate wheelchair-users.

But it is the safety fears which have caused the most concern for parents.

A father, whose daughter was denied a place at the school, said: "There was a meeting and we were told they'd reached the point where if there was a fire they wouldn't be able to guarantee our daughter could get out safely.

"After hearing that, I was pleased she hadn't got a place. I wouldn't let her go there now even if she was offered a place."

The school, in Balfour Road, is always heavily over-subscribed while some nearby schools are half-empty. Hertford Junior School, in nearby Lynchet Close, this year had 32 applicants for 62 available places.

There is annual disappointment as about 15 children from the four 30-strong classes at neighbouring Balfour Infant School are unable to move up with their classmates into the 105 available places.

Plans to merge into an all-through primary, ending the shortfall, collapsed in February after a successful 'no' campaign backed by parents, teachers and governors.

In 2003, the school's annual intake will be cut from 105 to 96.

This year, governors warned the appeals panel: "We are concerned about evacuation restrictions in many parts of the school, should an emergency arise.

"Several rooms are overcrowded and emergency exits are via small cloakrooms.

"Concerns have been raised as to the time it would take to evacuate the school in the event of fire as the children have to leave classrooms table-by-table to avoid bumping in to one another."

Mr Vousden said: "We have had to present a very strong case to the appeals panel but ideally we would like to encourage them to visit us so they can see the situation for themselves."

The strategy appears to have worked. Of seven appeals heard last week, only one was successful.

David Hawker, the city council's director of education, said there had been no progress since the school's campaign to overturn the merger plan.

He said: "Our solution was to merge the two schools but unfortunately it has been turned down as a result of rather intensive lobbying from some of the junior school staff, governors and parents.

"With empty spaces in schools nearby, we can't justify spending money on building more classrooms at Balfour Junior and, anyway, it's on a small campus. There's no immediate solution in sight."

Executive councillor for education Frieda Warman-Brown said: "We worked hard to take away this problem by paving the way to create an all-through primary school. Unfortunately we failed in our efforts and I'm afraid these are the consequences."