A GROUP of parents and pupils from Prestwich appealed to MP David Chaytor for support in their fight against potential high school closures or mergers.

Representatives of Stop School Closures, spoke to the Bury North MP on Wednesday about their concerns over Bury Council's strategic review of secondary school provision.

The meeting at Mr Chaytor's Market Street office in Bury was two days ahead of the end of the consultation period.

Campaigner Mikhil Karnik, whose son attends Parrenthorn, said: "Mr Chaytor listened to our views. The consultation has closed now but for us it is just the start of the process. We want to change the mind of the council about this and we are confident we can do that."

The group had asked Mr Chaytor to investigate the council's process of consultation over the proposed closures as many people were concerned it wasn't long enough and inconveniently timed over the Christmas period. Formal proposals by Bury Council are expected to be presented to the executive committee on January 25.