A PRIMARY school head is calling on the council to close a public footpath because of safety fears.

Headteacher Bernadette Bickerton wrote to Blackburn with Darwen Council requesting that a public path which runs through the school's playground be closed.

The planning and highways committee decided that the fate of footpath 234 at St Paul's CE School, Bayne Street, Darwen, would be put to public consultation.

Under the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000, a public footpath running through school grounds can be closed in order to protect pupils or staff. In her letter, written on behalf of the school governors, Mrs Bickerton said: "All staff and volunteers who come into contact with children at school have to be CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) cleared.

"However, due to the presence of the footpath, our children are exposed on a daily basis to open contact with members of the public in a wooded area.

"The footpath makes it impossible to keep our pupils safe from leaving grounds as barriers cannot be fully erected to make our play areas safe.

"The less responsible dog owners also use the footpath, adjoining tree area and the school playing fields as a dog toilet.

This is a serious health risk to out children who regularly play on the grass as well as having a PE lessons on the grassed areas.

"The open footpath means that it is impossible to provide a secure environment for our female site supervisor or other members of staff who may be locking school in an open and isolated area after dark."