A LOCAL school has scrapped controversial plans to rent out its car park to football fans after a public outcry.

Furious residents who live near Claypool School, Salisbury Road, Horwich, were up in arms when they heard about the proposals.

The school is just a short walk away from Bolton Wanderers' new Reebok Stadium.

But now the school's head Glenys Evans and chairman of governors Karen Griffiths have issued a joint statement to residents apologising for the distress caused.

They said that they took responsibility for the way the proposals were made known.

Now they have been made aware of the opposition to the move, they will not now go ahead. The statement adds: "Had we known about the residents' concern, we would not have entertained the idea in the first place."

They tell residents: "We regret that no one from your group felt able to talk to us or the other governors to resolve the matter earlier.

"But we apologise unreservedly for the unnecessary and unintentional distress caused."

Horwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Barbara Ronson, who had backed residents, said: "I am very pleased the school has come to this decision and we all wish the school well in its efforts to raise money by other means."

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