PLANS for an outside toy store at a Horwich primary school have been deferred after complaints from residents that the building could be a magnet for vandals.

The governors of Claypool Primary School in Horwich applied for planning permission to build a hardplay area and toy store after an Ofsted recommendation four years ago.

Ofsted inspectors recommended the Salisbury Road school improve facilities for the under-fives. The school then received a £50,000 Government grant to enable them to build the play area and toy store.

Horwich Town councillors supported the application in principal, but voted to refuse the request because of concerns that the new building could attract vandals into the area.

Following another site visit, Bolton Council's Planning Committee has now deferred a final decision to allow for further talks between the school and planning officers.

Residents living near the school are raising a petition protesting against the plans.

A concerned resident who did not wish to be named said: "The toy store will look like a garage and attract gangs of youths wanting to sit and congregate around it.

"There have already been problems with youths getting onto the school grounds."

Melbury Drive residents are also angry about the plans as the play area will face their homes.

Cllr Barbara Ronson said: "It is an unfortunate situation because the residents help to keep an eye on things at the school.

"I think they would be happy if the toy store could be tucked into a corner next to the school instead of having a brick garage type building in front of their homes."

Headteacher Mrs Glenys Evans said: "I have to say that I am disappointed.

"I think the residents will be pleasantly surprised if they could see the final building because it will be hardly visible.

"I have been presented with a copy of the petition and it feels like a slap in the face when families have signed it who have older children here or whose children have attended the school in the past.

"We are especially worried as the grant money must be used by the end of this financial year which is March 31 and it would be very sad of we lost such a valuable amount of money and then had to start looking for the money from another source."

The school has also received a grant from British Telecom to enable them to build a millennium garden to brighten up the grounds and both staff and pupils are looking forward to using a new hi-tech computer suite which opens in March.

The application for the play area and toy store will now be considered by Bolton Council's Planning Committee on February 22.