ANGRY parents have criticised an eleventh hour decision to keep a Bury school closed following the summer holiday.

The ruling was made by education chiefs just 24 hours before children were due to return to Woodbank County Primary School for the new term.

Almost 300 pupils were to arrive on Monday, but their return was then postponed until yesterday. Then, on Wednesday, parents received letters saying that the new term would not now begin until next Tuesday (Sep 12).

The delay has been caused by building work falling behind schedule.

The transfer of 60 pupils from Brandlesholme CP School, which closed permanently in the summer, meant two new classrooms, an extension to the school hall and the building of a nursery was needed to accommodate them.

In July it was realised that these would not be completed until the October half-term. Last week a temporary building was installed to accommodate two classes of pupils and the nursery class in the meantime.

But this week came the announcement that the temporary building was not even finished, hence yet another delay in the return to school.

Mrs Gillian Morris of Sowerby Close, Ainsworth, is one of a number of parents seriously concerned about the delay.

"It is unfair to treat children like this, it disturbs them and is a cause of concern for parents," said Mrs Morris whose eight-year-old son is a Woodbank pupil.

"Woodbank broke up four days before other schools at the end of last term because of the building work. It is now supposed to be reopening eight days after most other schools have returned. Our children's education may suffer through these lost days." She said other parents she had spoken to felt the same way.

"We received the letter the day before the children were supposed to be going back to school. They're not telling me they couldn't have warned us about this extra delay earlier.

"I'm a nurse and I was supposed to be working on Thursday but as a result of this I've had to take Thursday off and work Saturday instead. My husband has had to take a day's leave on Friday to look after Ben."

Another parent, who lives just a short distance from the school, said: "I saw the portable cabins arrive last week. There was no way things were going to be ready in time.

"It has been like a building site all week. I can't imagine it will be totally safe when the children go back. It's a shambles that we were not told any earlier. How can we arrange childcare at such short notice?"

Bury's chief education officer Mr Harold Williams said: "We took the decision to delay opening for just three days in order to prepare the temporary buildings. Obviously we regret the inconvenience that this might have caused to parents and we all look forward to the school being open next week."