A six-year-old schoolgirl has been forced to make a daily two-mile walk to classes after being denied a place at a primary school less than 100 metres from her home.

Isobell Sykes must make a tiring four mile round-trip each day after missing out on a place at Burnham-on-Sea Infant School.

But pity her mother Emma – who does not drive – as she walks a staggering eight miles a day escorting Isobell to and from school, all the while pushing her infant son in a buggy.

Education chiefs at Somerset County Council said the school, which is "spitting distance" from Isobell's home, was oversubscribed.

But it means Isobell, who has asthma, must walk along a busy A-road to reach Beechfield Infant School in the neighbouring village of Highbridge.

Parents Adam and Emma have already lodged two unsuccessful appeals against the "discriminatory" decision.

Adam, who works in sales, said: "Isobell gets very tired walking this distance every day and it is affecting her education. We feel discriminated against.

"Because of my work I can only drop her off sometimes in the morning but because my wife doesn't drive she always has to walk home at night.

"It's a very busy main road and because she has asthma the routine is really wearing her down.

"She's an active little girl but it's a long way to walk and leaves her exhausted every night.

"Since they refused our appeal they've let two children into the school on our doorstep –how can they have more right than Isobell, who lives 100 metres away?"

Housewife Emma cannot drive and so must push her one-year-old son Robert eight miles every day in order to walk Isobell to and from school.

A spokesman for the council said Isobell had been treated fairly, and denied allegations of discrimination.

He said: "Although most parents will be offered a place at a school they prefer, we appreciate how disappointing it is when this is not possible.

"Parents and carers have a legal right to appeal to an independent panel. Unfortunately, in this particular case they have been unsuccessful on two occasions."

Adam and Emma are prohibited from launching another appeal against the decision until the next school year.