PLANS to build a new £2.5million state-of-the-art school will cause a lot of upset in Blackburn, according to the Vicar of Ewood.

The Rev Ken Howles, of St Bartholomew's Church in Bolton Road, says that plans to merge two primary schools into a new school on the Fernhurst estate, close to Ewood Park, will result in at least two job losses and possible confusion for the pupils.

Talks are under way between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn Diocese officials to merge St Andrew's in Scotland Bank Terrace, off Livesey Branch Road, and St Bartholomew's.

Council bosses hope the new school will be ready for September 2003.

The two schools would be knocked down and the land, owned by Blackburn Diocese, would probably be put up for sale.

Mr Howles said: "The main concern is that not all staff will keep their jobs.

"Both head teachers and deputy heads will have to reapply for jobs and two will go, which is the same as being constructively dismissed.

"Of course we are pleased that children will have a state of the art school.

"This is good news and we rejoice that the children will have this and new playing fields but the way this is being done is not good."

Peter Morgan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's new director of education and lifelong learning, said the new £2.5million government funding would provide a school for the 21st century, incorporating high-quality learning facilities.

He explained that when planning permission was granted for a new housing estate at Fernhurst, a green-field site was reserved for a possible new school with large playing fields. St Bartholomew's has no grassed playing areas and St Andrew's area is often waterlogged.