THE waiting is finally over for hundreds of East Hampshire parents and their bid to get their children into a favoured primary school.

And it looks like the race has been a good one for most, with 90 per cent of children starting September term at their first-choice school.

That figure compares to 89 per cent in 2012, while a further 6.06 and 1.66 per cent got a place at their second or third-place choice.

The nail-biting wait ended for most last Wednesday when they received a confirmation e-mail from Hampshire County Council.

Hard copies were also sent out the following day to people who provided incorrect e-mail addresses or filled in a paper application.

The council has processed more than 14,000 applications for children starting primary school in September over the last year.

It's a huge exercise but the bottom line is that 97.76 per cent of children will be going to one of three schools preferred by their parents.

John Coughlan, the county council's director of children's services, said the percentage was slightly higher than last year with a small increase in the number of parents and children getting their first choice school.

Happy parents do not have to confirm acceptance but are expected to contact the school with evidence of their address and child's date of birth.

Parents also can also appeal, with their child's name being added to a waiting list, and can also change their mind but need to quickly contact the county council.