AN over-subscribed East Lancashire village school is seeking an extension to accommodate its pupils.

Altham St James Church of England Primary wants to build a single-storey extension to the existing reception and add a new single-storey modular building to its premises.

The governors of the school in Burnley Road, Altham, have applied to Hyndburn Council for planning permission for the enlargement.

A supporting statement with the application says: "Altham St James Church of England Primary School is located to the south of Burnley Road within the village of Altham.

"The site is a well-established educational facility that has served the children of the village and neighbouring villages of Clayton-le-Moors and Padiham.

"It is a Voluntary Aided School by the Church of England Trustees, to provide education for approximately 70 local children, between the ages of four and 11-years-old.

"The wider site comprises the main school building, housed in a Victorian stone building which has been modernised and extended over recent years, and surrounded by a grassed field to the west and south of the site.

"Altham St James Church of England Primary School is an Ofsted ‘Good’ educational facility with capacity to accommodate 63 pupils between the ages of four to 11-years-old, albeit the school is currently operating over capacity with 70 pupils on roll.

"The proposed development is required to enhance the educational facilities and will enable the school to meet the existing over-capacity.

"The school has now utilised all of its available accommodation on-site and require an immediate solution to assist with the over-capacity.

""The school is contained within an irregular shaped stone building, dating back to the early Victorian times.

"There are currently three classrooms within the school accommodating 70 pupils, one for the infant class and two for the junior children.

"The school also comprises an assembly hall used for worship, PE and dining, as well as a group room, staff room, headmaster’s office, staff office and toilets.

"This application seeks approval for the erection of a single-storey extension to the existing reception building alongside a single-storey modular building to be located upon an area of the grass field to the west of the existing school buildings, forming part of the school complex and operating as part of its existing activities.

"The new build extension and modular building will be of a modern and contemporary design, utilising high-quality materials sympathetic to the character of the existing school."