A HASLINGDEN church school will remain open, education officials confirmed today.

St Mary's RC Primary School was one of four Roman Catholic schools put under review by diocean chiefs last year by the Salford Diocese after concerns about falling rolls in the Rossendale Valley.

But they confirmed today that St Mary's would remain open after establishing that there was the potential for more pupils to attend the Lime Road school.

A spokesman for the diocese said: "There are pupils in the area whose parents have chosen to send them to other schools.

"But the parents at the school showed a very strong commitment to the school and it has continued to perform very well despite these circumstances, providing pupils with a good quality of education.

"Our preferred option is keep the school open."

A decision on St Joseph's in Stacksteads, St Peter's in Newchurch and St Mary's in Bacup is due soon.

The diocese's first announcement comes just days after Lancashire County Council confirmed three schools it was reviewing, Thorn Primary, Bacup Nursery and Sharney-ford Primary, had all been spared too.

Plans for a new, £5million school to replace Cloughfold and Waterfoot primary schools have also been announced.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope today welcomed the RC decision.

He said: ""I am absolutely delighted. This is a victory for a campaign led by the local community."