A PRIMARY school has closed amid fears that the school buildings are in danger of collapse due to erosion.
More than 100 pupils of Bolton Parish Church School who were due to start a new term on Monday have been given an extended holiday for a further two weeks.
Education chiefs will then "transfer" the children to Longsight School, Harwood.
Council bosses fear that subsidence and drainage problems mean the playground falling more than 30 feet into a river, putting the school building, on Kestor Street, at risk.
Pupils were supposed to start school again after the summer break yesterday but parents were sent letters informing them that the school would be closed for the autumn term.
The children, along with the school's computers, books and furniture, will move to the Harwood school -- which was closed this summer due to falling school numbers -- on Monday September 20.
Today, as survey work started at Bolton Parish Churtch School two pupils turned up at school expecting to start the new term.
Roshni Patel, aged nine, and her sister Shivani, aged four, were sent home with their father after staff informed him of the closure.
Mr Patel said: "The girls were very keen to start school today, especially as Shivani starts reception class. I thought it looked a bit odd when we arrived and no-one was here. It looks like I've misread the letter."
A Bolton Council spokesman said that following the extremely wet weather in August, tests were carried out on the site which showed that the school playing fields were at risk from subsidence.
School governors, staff, and the local education authority decided it would be too dangerous to reopen the building, and opted to relocated the entire school, including the nursery. A letter sent out to parents by John Wallington, Chairman of governors at the school, said: "I sincerely apologise for the delay in the start of the school year, but the seriousness of the problem was only identified this week. Our concern for the safety of the children is paramount, as is the desire to maintain the identity of Bolton Parish, albeit in another building for a period of time."
"We cannot say at this stage how long this will be, as once the school is totally empty, there will be a lot of surveying work to be carried out."
The school's governors are looking at offering a full-time nursery class, which will be half-funded by the school, and half by parents requiring it.
Parents have also been told that there will be an open day to allow them to see the facilities at Longsight School.
A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "Due to the problems with drainage and subsidence around Bolton Parish Church School for the safety of all children the Governors, Staff and LEA have taken the decision to close the school for the autumn term from 7th September.
"Contingency arrangements have been put in place to temporarily accommodate all the children in the Longsight CP School Site, Hough Fold Way, Harwood, by 20th September.
"We would re-assure all parents that there will be as little disruption as possible to the children's education and all classes will be structured with the same teachers as was expected at Bolton Parish Church School.
"The school will be holding an open day at the Longsight CP School Site in the near future to re-assure parents of the new arrangements and transport will be provided."
Parents have been informed that the plan for the school day beginning on the 20th September will be as follows:
Children to arrive at the school gates in Kestor Street for 8.55 a.m
Buses to depart at 8.55 a.m prompt with accompanying staff for the 10 minute ride to Longsight.
Similarly buses will leave Longsight in time to arrive back at Kestor Street by 3.30p.m
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article