A SCHOOL in danger of slipping into a river may be saved from demolition.

Education chiefs are hoping to reopen Bolton Parish Church of England School later this year after work to strengthen the banking overlooking the River Tonge.

Workmen will carry out remedial work to the river bank - behind the school - and repair the school buildings.

The school in Kestor Street, on the outskirts of Bolton town centre, was closed late last year amid fears that the playground could slide 30ft into the river because of erosion.

There were fears at the time that it may have to be bulldozed.

The 218 nursery and primary school pupils were moved to the empty Longsight Primary School, in Harwood.

But following a meeting on Monday, a Bolton Council spokesman said the pupils are likely to return to their school after the work is carried out later this year.

Education chiefs are seeking a grant from the Department for Education and Skills to pay for the work.

The cost of repair work is not yet known.

Officers from the Manchester Diocese and Bolton Council have spoken with the headteacher and the school's governing body.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "The outcome of the recent ground investigations gives us confidence that the school buildings can be brought back into use.

"This is provided that remedial works are undertaken to the embankment of the River Tonge adjoining the school, and that suitable pile foundations and repairs to the building are undertaken."

Work would begin if the DfES provides grant aid, the spokesman said.

She added: "This would allow the school to reopen on its original site as soon as possible."

Bolton Parish School, and its nursery, was built in 1975 at a cost of £133,000.

It replaced the nearby 100-year-old Ridgways Endowed CE Primary School.

This is not the first time the school has had a brush with disaster.

In 1990, the school was destroyed by fire that caused £1 million worth of damage.

Youngsters had to be taught at a different school for 18 months while Bolton Parish was rebuilt.