COUNCILLORS have given the go ahead to a major review of Bolton primary schools to solve the problem of empty desks.

They have agreed to the massive exercise which could lead to the closure and merger of some local schools.

As reported in the BEN, education chiefs are looking to stave off a predicted fall in pupil numbers over the next few years.

From this month every school will come under the spotlight during a wide-ranging consultation exercise to find local solutions to the problem by July.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.