TWO schools have been given the go ahead to make changes ahead of the new academic year starting.

SS Osmund and Andrew RC Primary School has been granted permission to build two extra classrooms.

This will allow the Breightmet school to expand in a bid to tackle the shortfall of pupil spaces at primary level.

Plans for new canopies and a multi-use games area at Rumworth School have also been approved by members of the planning committee on Thursday.

A total of three applications relating to schools will be decided by councillors next week at an additional committee meeting which has been arranged for August 29.

Chairman John Walsh asked for the extra meeting to avoid a situation in which children go into schools with temporary classrooms which do not have planning permission.

He said: "They need to be dealt with so that we don't create that potential embarrassment."

St James's CE Secondary School, Harper Green School and Westhoughton High County Secondary School are on the agenda.