BLACK parents are demanding a fairer say, after parent governor elections were tainted by allegations of vote-rigging and racism.

The parents have attacked chiefs at Hawksmoor School, in Bentham Road, Thamesmead, for ignoring the views of the black community.

They also accuse the school of creating a "smokescreen", with an electoral system carefully engineered to ensure the success of certain white candidates.

According to the parents, only two days were allowed for nominations, when most schools set aside at least two weeks for the process.

Parents also say voting was done on a per child, not per parent basis, meaning some parents got as many as four votes for their preferred candidate.

They also claim official results were botched and given in percentages which were incorrect, adding up to more than 200 per cent.

Tayo Jubuzkie, who has two children at the school, feels the election regulations were set up to favour the established, white governors preferred by the school hierarchy.

She said: "These elections sum up the problem with the school at the moment.

"Racism is a big issue. I would think at least half the children at the school are black, yet there is currently only one black governor.

"It does not add up, the black community is not being fairly represented.

"The whole thing is just a smokescreen designed to confuse us but it hasn't worked. How stupid do they think we are?"

Another woman, who did not want to be named, stood for election but claims she lost votes because her name was incorrectly spelt on the ballot paper.

The angry parents are now ready to make a formal complaint to the school, airing their grievances and demanding a change in the voting procedure.

The school declined to comment but Greenwich Council said it would not be asking for a new vote.

A council spokesman said: "We do not have a set of specific regulations when it comes to governor elections but we can offer guidance.

"In this case we are happy the guidelines have been adhered to, otherwise we would have suggested a re-run of the election."