Nearly 200 Brent pupils will be starting the new September term at a school they did not want to go to.

A total of 192 four-year-olds have not been placed at one of their three chosen primary schools, according to a poll by the Evening Standard - the fourth highest number in London.

Council chiefs are now facing criticism from angry parents and opposition political parties.

Councillor Ann John, leader of the Brent Labour party, said: "I am shocked by the figures and it is a hell of a lot of children not given one of their chosen schools.

"It is clear the borough needs more school places and the disgrace is the delay in the Wembley academy. It was due to fully open in 2009, but the council is now being forced to open temporary classrooms in September to deal with the problem."

Only Croydon, Enfield and Kingston failed to place more youngsters at their chosen primaries, but Brent Council claim the statistics are due to the massive demand for school places.

Councillor Bob Wharton (Liberal Democrat), in charge of children and families, said he was amazed that there were not a higher number of pupils who had not been given a chosen school.

"I am not at all surprised by the figures and txxxght they would have been higher considering the number of applications we had," he said.

"We were over subscribed for the 3,200 primary school places in the borough and will have to open six new classes in September to cope with the demand.

"This means some children have been placed in schools which were not on their list."

Applications for primary school places were made in February with parents choosing three schools, in order of preference.

Priority was given to pupils in care, pupils with special needs, children with siblings already at the chosen school and youngsters who lived within the school's catchment area.

If the chosen school was full, the council placed the child at the second or third preference.

And if these were both taken, they were placed in the nearest school which still had places.

Brent Council said all applicants were offered a school place and 79 per cent received an offer at their highest ranked school.

A local authority spokeswoman added: "The majority of these 192 pupils did not secure a chosen school as they listed one school only, either applying for a school outside their catchment area or for faith schools where they did not meet the admission criteria.

"There is no doubt that the council is experiencing a shortage of school places, arising from an increased birth rate and high levels of migration.

"We have responded positively to this by creating an additional 120 places last September and 210 reception places for this September.

"We also have plans for further school expansions and are confident these measures will mean more parents secure a place at their preferred school."