A PRIMARY school in Bacup has had £100,000 spent on it -- but only two pupils on the roll in September.

Members of Rossendale Council heard how Sharneyford County Primary School, in Todmorden Road, currently has 82 pupils on its books but only has two names on its intake list next year.

The problems in falling numbers in Rossendale schools were highlighted in a report to the corporate policy committee last night.

A consultation document on a draft school organisational plan for Lancashire shows Rossendale primary schools could take 6,794 pupils but in January 2002 only 5,988 were on the roll with a projected figure of 5,331 in 2006.

Councillor John McManus said: "In Bacup this September there were be 528 vacant places in primary schools. One school has just had an investment of £100,000 but has just two pupils on the September intake."

But temporary headteacher Chris Haworth explained she had no concerns about Sharneyford school closing and that despite the low intake this year overall numbers would not be down.

She said: "We have just had a new classroom built and there will be a new headteacher in September. We have 82 pupils all together and a recent suitability study that the LEA did put our pupil numbers in the upper 80s so we are not that far away.

"Next year we already have eight names down and two more to come who have brothers and sisters here."

By contrast, the Lancashire County Council report says Rossendale's secondary schools have more pupils on their roll and their assessed capacity -- more than 500.

Councillor McManus said he was concerned the fall in school rolls may have an affect on secondary schools, particularly Fearns High School in Stacksteads.

He called for LCC to investigate the primary school figures.

But Councillor Nick Pilling pointed out the report did not talk of primary school closures and he was concerned calling for an investigation could lead to some action the council did not want. However, he did call for LCC to look into the secondary school figures because schools were over-stretched.

It was resolved to voice concerns to LCC over the figures contained in the report.