A bid to alter a half-term holiday for thousands of West Sussex schoolchildren has been turned down.

County councillor Jake Clausen says children and parents spend most of the autumn half-term week in the dark.

He told the county council the half-term week always started when the clocks had gone back and that it should be brought forward so it fell during British Summer Time.

Coun Clausen said he wanted it to become council policy so children and parents could make use of the longer daylight hours.

He said: "This catches a lot of families out as they plan outdoor activities only to find it is dark in the afternoon."

Cabinet member for education Sally Greenwell said West Sussex holidays were the same as in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove and were timed for exactly halfway through the long autumn term.

She added: "The dates are set after careful consideration and consultation with the teachers' associations and neighbouring authorities."

Councillor Greenwell said national school terms and holidays were being reviewed and proposals for a new six-term year could be on the cards.