SCHOOLS in East Lancashire could face a crisis over too many pupils in a few years.

The number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools in the area has already dropped this year, and the number of pupils entering secondary schools is set to rise over the next seven years, leaving Lancashire County Council trying to solve how it will cope with the expected demand.

In a report to be discussed by the council's education working group on Tuesday, councillors will hear that the number of pupils entering secondary school in the county rose by 610 in the last year.

Figures also show that in Blackburn, there are places for 15,090 primary pupils yet in the year 2000 it is expected to be 15,339.

Blackburn and the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley areas face increases in secondary school pupils by the year 2003 while the number of youngsters in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale will fall.

Across the county, there will be an estimated rise from 86,227 secondary school pupils this year to 87,596 in 2003.

The report says: "There would be a shortfall of places by the year 2003, even without the possible effects of housing and migration.

"The emphasis will continue to be on planning for growth and this is reflected in the growing number of projects to provide additional places."

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