SCHOOL governors claim they could be forced to axe swimming lessons from the curriculum under new measures set to be imposed by the county council.

Governors at St Mary's RC Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, have asked Hyndburn MP Greg Pope to join their fight against moves which would see individual schools having to fund lessons.

And Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has also written to sports minister Tony Banks asking him to intervene over the controversial proposals.

Pupils in years 3 to 6 at St Mary's currently have two lessons a week at Mercer Hall swimming pool, Great Harwood, with travel and pool fees covered by the county council.

But from September, funding will come directly from school budgets rather than County Hall, which governors say could result in lessons being cancelled for at least a year. Parents have already rejected requests for help with transport and governors are now considering asking for a voluntary contribution towards the cost.

Lessons will run as normal until the end of the current school year, but changes are likely to come into force in the autumn.

St Mary's headteacher Tony Gallagher claims one session per week plus travel would cost between £800 to £1,400 next year - and the school has only been allocated £904.

Maintaining the current two sessions a week would cost between £2,500 and £3,700.

The county's education and cultural services committee has called for an 'urgent review' of swimming provision and is set to make a final decision on the issue during the summer break.

Mr Gallagher said: "If it comes to the crunch, we may not have any swimming lessons next year and I know we're not the only school in the area in that position."

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