I AM a very concerned grandparent of two pupils at St. Paul's C of E primary school in Ramsbottom.

The recent news that St. Paul's may be amalgamated with St. Andrew's is very distressing. My mother and her three brothers attended St. Paul's in the early 1900s, then my two cousins, my son and now my two grandchildren. They all spoke happily of their days there and now it is nice for me to take part in school activities with my grandchildren.

The staff at St. Paul's are very approachable and my grandchildren are always happy to go to school They are never sorry when Monday morning arrives or at the end of the school holidays.

St. Paul's is like one big happy family. The older children know the younger ones and look out for them. And as a grandparent I never feel excluded -- though I don't think I would be made to feel this way at the larger St. Andrew's school.

The Government keep telling us they want smaller classes, yet here is a wonderful school with smaller classes and what do they want to do? Close it!

I implore councillors to spend some time with the children at St. Paul's and experience the happy atmosphere. The heartbreak and unhappiness caused to the children could remain with them for a very long time to come.

MRS O. WILSON