HUNDREDS of thousands of parents will find out today and tomorrow if their children have gained places at their chosen secondary school.

Emails and letters were being sent out today after councils allocated places for more than 500,000 10 and 11-year-olds starting secondary school in September.

Yesterday it was revealed that Brighton and Hove City Council is to become the first in the country to allocate places on a lottery basis to stop middle-class parents dominating the best secondary schools.

Reports say that Government figures suggest at least 90,000 children will miss out on their first- choice school.

Some parents will find out by email today while most will receive a letter from their council tomorrow.

Brighton and Hove Council made its decision after a new admissions code was published by the Government's Education Department in January, giving schools the option of selecting pupils by lottery.

It comes into effect for pupils applying for places in September, 2008.