A BATTLING Bromsgrove mum claims she has been "gagged" by county council bosses who have banned her from helping families whose children have special education needs.

Yesterday Karen Lane, who trained for six weeks to become a Worcestershire County Council befriender, received a letter saying she could not be used by the authority.

It said it was 'inappropriate' because of her five-year battle over her ten-year-old daughter's education.

Karis has cerebral palsy and Turner's Syndrome and education bosses refuse to pay for her to go to a residential school and ruled her needs could be met in a mainstream school.

Karen said the Parent Partnership, an independent Government-funded organisation, knew of the saga when it gave her the hard-earned certificate.

She said: "I am not shocked by this because in a year I have not been given anyone to help.

"I have so much experience, knowledge and contacts which I wanted to share for free with other parents.

"I feel as though it's a gagging order."

A council spokesman said: "Mrs Lane knows the training did not especially lead to being used as a befriender because she is in dispute with the local education authority but she can offer advice to parents as an individual."