Parents and teachers who hope to open a new church-run free school run are appealing for more people to back their plans.

St John the Baptist, in Wood Street, Chipping Barnet, hopes the new Church of England primary school will open for four-year-olds in September 2017.

But with just 150 signatures and less than a month to go before they submit an application to the Department for Education, they are asking parents for more support.

Judy Burstow, a former teacher who is one of the people leading the campaign, said: “It’s not going badly but we are having trouble getting support from parents.

“The school is aimed at children who are two, one and those that haven’t even been born yet, so those parents aren’t really thinking about schooling yet.”

The school will welcome 50 per cent of children from church homes, and the remaining 50 per cent will be from the Underhill and High Barnet areas.

Both Christ Church Primary School and St Mary’s in Monken Hadley are heavily oversubscribed and it is believed the problem will only get worse.

Father Tristan Chapman, who is backing the plans, said: “The church is the oldest educator, so it’s fitting we would start something like this. There is clearly a need for it.”

For more information visit www.ChippingBarnetCofESchool.Weebly.com