PLACARD-waving pupils marched on Bury Town Hall to protest against plans to close their school.

About 20 youngsters from Affetside Primary School staged a demonstration outside the entrance to the civic building on Friday afternoon (June 28) before handing over a 2,000-name petition.

Banners bearing slogans such as "Don't Close Our Little School", "We Love Affetside" and "Put Children First" were carried by the young pupils.

Four-year-old Elisa Wilcock then presented a "Save Affetside School" petition to Ramsbottom councillor Dorothy Gunther.

Mum Joanne Wilcock said: "Elisa is due to start in the school's reception class from September 2003 and will be one of the last in Affetside ever to attend the village school if it closes.

"The demonstration was meant to convey small children at a small school with a big message."

The school has been staging a high-profile SAS, Save Affetside School, campaign ever since the local education authority announced plans to close a number of the borough's schools because of falling pupil numbers.

Bury Council's executive committee approved the proposal to close the village school in May. However, the final decision lies with the schools organisation committee (SOC), which is due to meet on July 15.

Mrs Wilcock added: "The children presented the petition to Councillor Gunther because she is the chairman of our area board and also because she believes that the school should not close.

"It was at an area board meeting that Coun Gunther asked if the school be given four years to increase its pupil numbers."

The petition has since been handed over to the LEA department and will be forwarded to the SOC.

The SOC will also rule on whether to close St Paul's CE in Ramsbottom; whether Radcliffe Infant and Radcliffe Junior should merge; to close either St John's CE Primary School or St Mark's CE Primary School in Bury; to merge Fishpool Primary and St Chad's CE Junior in Bury.