THE future of underused schools in Blackburn and Darwen is hanging in the balance as council chiefs try to sort out how to keep up with a shifting population.

Councillors have warned that some may have to merge or even close to release money to pay for new schools in residential boom areas.

According to a report to be presented to next week's executive committee, several areas are currently suffering from a shortage of school places -- while elsewhere there is a surplus of more than 25 per cent.

Overall, the number of surplus places is described as satisfactory, but the report says the borough-wide statistics hide "specific problems."

The report says new estates in places like Darwen and south Blackburn have caused a shift in the school population, which has resulted in schools which were traditionally full every year having more than 30 surplus places, around five per cent of their total number.

But opposition councillor Coun Colin Rigby blamed the fact that there was no catchment area system, allowing parents to pick and choose primary schools anywhere in the area, even if it was not the nearest to where they live. He believes parents are clamouring to get children into better schools.

In a review, to be conducted annually, the need for a new primary school in the Fernhurst Park and Craven's Farm area between Blackburn and Darwen was highlighted, while other primary schools may be extended using Government cash.

A feasibility study into the new school will be held. An extra £1million in funding has been made available by the Government to be spent across the borough but additional action is still needed, says the report. It states the problem has only been created because of shifting housing trends, although Conservative councillors claim it is more to do with parents picking the best schools for their pupils.

The report also recommends that a close watch be kept on the Darwen area amid concerns that the rapid expansion of the town could lead to chronic school-place shortages.

Some of Blackburn with Darwen's 12 high schools are also undersubscribed but council officials say it is not a major concern to them as it is easier for pupils to travel further to and from school.

Coun Mahfooz Hussain, executive member for education, said: "We only have finite resources and they need to be used where they are needed.

"There are parts of the borough where new houses have been built and there is now more demand for school places while in other areas there are surplus places.

"We do not yet know how we will sort out the problem. It may be that we merge some schools or maybe close them if that is the best course of action."

He added: "We will make sure any changes are done with parent consultation and will not affect choice and we are keen to maintain parental preference."

Council bosses have not revealed which schools are under threat. But it is understood that the Higher Croft area of Blackburn -- behind Ewood Park stadium -- is suffering from a decline in demand.

Schools there include Roman Road County Primary in Fishmoor Drive, Longshaw County Junior in Park Lee Road and Longshaw County Infant on a separate site in Crosby Road. Steve Robinson, head at Roman Road County Primary School, said: "At present we have surplus places but it would be unfair to take action too soon. We are suffering because the nearby Roman Road estate is being refurbished by Twin Valley. This means a lot of families have moved on. Once the estate is completed, I think numbers will pick up again as parents look for a quality school to match the new estate."

A spokesman for St Bartholemew's Primary School, Bolton Road, one of the nearest to the developments in Fernhurst, said they were overfull.

But he added: "It tends to be people asking for places for older children rather than younger ones starting in reception. We are only supposed to have 17 per year group but we are over that at the moment. We could do with more spaces."

Peter Morgan, Assistant Director of Education and Training, said: "At this stage, while we have outlined the potential for a new school in the Fernhurst area we need to do some research before any further progress can be made."