BOLTON Community College is closing eight satellite centres it rents at schools and community centres across the town.

Mature students and lecturers have condemned the plans describing them as a slap in the face for community education.

The Manchester Road-based college will stop classes at the end of this term at sites which they rent. Managers will then use the college's teaching centres for the courses instead.

The college will no longer teach classes at the Wolfenden Street Centre Primary in Halliwell, the Lower Bridgeman Street site, Sharples Evening Centre at Sharples High School, the Youthopia centre in Johnson Fold, Little Lever High School Evening Centre, St Thomas CP School in Halliwell, Gaskell Community Room, and Rivington and Blackrod Evening Centre.

Mary Holt, who lives in Astley Bridge, has attended courses run by the community education department for more than 25 years and is concerned that the college is trying to get rid of the "community" element of education altogether.

The 65-year-old attends courses at Sharples, Lower Bridgeman Street, and Mount St Joseph's High School in Farnworth, which means that from September she will have to enrol at new sites if she wants to continue with her Art and Information and Business Technology classes.

She said: "I'm worried that the college is going to hammer community education out of existence to help pay off some of its debts.

"If the classes are moved to Manchester Road I won't be going because I don't feel safe in town. It's hard to get there on public transport and even people who have cars will struggle to park there.

"The Government is keen to promote education for life, but what can people do if classes are taken out of their immediate community?"

A community education teacher, who did not want to be named, has been made redundant and said: "The staff are up in arms because nobody really knows what is going on.

"I've come to terms with the fact I'm being made redundant, but I feel bad for the mature students -- where do they go for classes now?"

A Community College spokesman said: "Bolton Community College continues to be committed to community-based learning.

"It offers courses at more than 110 sites. These vary greatly in size, quality, upkeep costs, facilities and location.

"For various factors and after consultations with students and user groups, it has been decided that the Community College will no longer offer courses at eight sites.

"Courses that would in the past have been offered at these sites will now be transferred to other local sites in the new academic year."

Colin Gledhill, regional officer of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, said he was shocked by the closures, but has no idea yet how many redundancies will result from them.