BOSSES at County Hall have been urged by an East Lancashire MP to maintain standards of nursery education at present levels.

Widespread concern over possible closures of nursery schools and the incorporation of classes into primary schools resulted in Burnley MP Peter Pike being lobbied by worried parents at his weekly advice surgery.

He told them that Lancashire County Council was carrying out full consultation on the issue - but definite proposals were still awaited.

Mr Pike gave an assurance there would be no major changes until July 2001.

He said: "I am receiving a lot of mail on the subject and I met County Coun Hazel Harding, chairman of the county's education committee and chief education officer Chris Trinick on this subject last month.

"In 1974 the county council inherited from the old Burnley County Borough excellent nursery school provision in Burnley - better than anywhere else in Lancashire.

"While status quo is not a sustainable position, I have made it clear I would want to see Burnley's nursery education system kept at this standard and improved if possible."

Mr Pike said he was lobbied at his weekly advice bureau and would be putting forward the views expressed to the county council.

Fears over the future of Burnley nurseries has also been expressed by Burnley councillors and parents mounted a "save our school" demonstration at Rockwood nursery.

Last week Simon Crawshaw of Lancashire County Council's public relations department moved to assure parents that no nurseries would close, except in Burnley, where there appeared to be an over provision of places for the number of children there.

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