PARENTS today discovered that a Blackburn primary school is to close within a matter of months.

Council bosses plan to shut Highercroft Primary School, Fishmoor Drive, at the end of December after seeing its pupil numbers drop from 199 to 105 within four years.

Letters informing parents were sent by first class post yesterday.

The council's Labour majority agreed to push through the plans "weeks ago" but the shock news was only broken to staff, unions and governors yesterday.

Staff at the school have been guaranteed employment until August 2006 and will be offered help finding alternative posts.

But unions and opposition leaders have branded the council's handling of the situation "shambolic" and are furious parents of pupils due to start at the school have only months to switch their plans.

And staff have vowed to fight plans to close the school deemed "effective and happy" in its latest Ofsted report.

One worker said: "Staff only got told they had to attend a meeting on Wednesday and I am very angry especially at the lack of warning. I feel sorry for parents, pupils and staff - this has come out the blue and we will fight this all the way."

Education director Peter Morgan said: "Reducing numbers of pupils can affect a school's ability to deliver good quality education so we must act to protect the children's future.

"For some time now, the schools in the Highercroft and Longshaw area have faced a decline in their pupil numbers and this is likely to increase over the next three years."

He stressed pupils will be able to move to other schools which have vacancies from January 2006 and the council will be contacting parents of pupils due to join the reception class at Highercroft Primary School in September to explain the situation and "discuss their options".

If the plans go through it will be the second Blackburn with Darwen school to be wound up this year with Queen's Park High School closing in March before re-opening as Blakewater College on April 6.

Lesley Hamm, of the Blackburn branch of the NASUWT, said "The first we knew about the closure plans was at Wednesday's meeting which I was told to attend the previous day. This is a case of deja vu after the Queen's Park fiasco.

"It smacks of arrogance and I have absolutely no faith in the council whatsoever. If they can make announcements like this within 24 hours - the question must be what schools are next?"

Chairman of governors and Labour councillor John Milburn said: "The decision of the Labour group to recommend closure was made very, very recently and only a matter of weeks ago."

He added: "As a governor of 28 years and someone who has seen two sons go though the school it extremely upsetting but the reality is the school has to close. "

After consultation the final decision on whether to close the school will be made in the autumn term by the School Organisation Committee, an independent body representing all those involved in education locally.