A consultation is now running on plans to permanently raise the age range at a school in Burnley after the number of children applying to its nursery fell.

In July, the council’s cabinet approved proposals to allow a consultation period on the future of the nursery provision at Whittlefield Community Primary School in Tabor Street.

This consultation, which is now live, runs until October 18.

The plans are to discontinue the nursery provision by permanently raising the age range from three to 11 years to four to 11 years. If approved the plans will come into effect from December 31.

The reduction in pupil numbers is placing a financial burden on the primary school, as the nursery provision has to be subsidised at a substantial cost.

Councillor Jayne Rear, cabinet member for education and skills at Lancashire County Council, said: "Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient childcare places for working parents that are accessible, affordable, and delivered flexibly in high-quality settings.

"Burnley has these in abundance but the added competition means that some providers have struggled to attract children to fill the places and this is causing some nurseries to be undersubscribed.

"Permanently changing the age range will instead mean that Whittlefield Community Primary School can concentrate its efforts on the children in Reception and older.

"We do not believe that it will have an adverse local impact due to the excellent provision elsewhere in the area."