Staff, parents and ward councillors in Harwood have reacted with shock at council plans to close Longsight Primary School a year from now and are prepared to fight it all the way.

The local education authority (LEA) has blamed falling pupil numbers as a major reason to close the Hough Fold Way school.

The current capacity is 140 but the school had just 118 on its roll in September.

Under the LEA proposals the school would cease to exist next September and another school would take over the building, with nearby Christ's Church CE Primary being the most likely candidate.

The school has just been positioned joint 66th in the school league tables out of 108 Bolton primary schools.

Every child at the school has put pen to paper to express their feelings about the shock proposal.

Andrew Horrobin, aged 10, wrote: "The teachers are fabulous and the headteacher hardly shouts at you. If you close this school down the pupils will lose their best friends they have played with all their lives. The magnificent teachers will lose their jobs over this. It means no more sports teams, football, netball, judo and kids' club."

James Roberts, aged 11, said: "I am upset that our school might be closing. I would miss my best friends, I would miss them very much. I would miss my best teachers, Miss Helme and Miss Gerrard. I have a little sister who is in year one and she also loves this school."

Year two pupil, Martin Hardman, aged six, wrote: "I am writing to tell you about my school. Everyone loves this school. I like Mrs Rutkowski because she's funny. I like Mrs Rutkowski because she helps us with our work. I like English lessons."

His classmate Charlotte Crompton, aged seven, wrote: "I like Mrs Rutkowski and all the other teachers because they are kind and helpful and only get cross if someone is very naughty. I love doing lessons and going on school trips and I want to stay with this school till I leave."

Tanya Mitchell, aged six, wrote: "I like all the teachers because they are nice. I like hard work and homework, I like doing PE because it is fun, I love Mrs Rutkowski when she is funny and I love going on school trips."

Jack Holland, aged six, wrote: "I like the school dances. When we have problems we have a wiggle to send our problems away. Please do not close our school down."

Lois Allman, aged 10, wrote: "I feel that this is the best school ever. If you close down the school then I will have to remember the teachers in my mind instead of visiting them. This makes me feel sad."

Kingsley Walker, aged 10, wrote: "I feel that this school has given me some of the vital things in life, education, friendship and support."

Alexander Morris, aged seven, added: "I am now always having to think about another school and another life. I like this school very much. I am going to miss all my friends especially my best friend Joshua Williamson."

Classmate, Jodie Leanne Brown, aged seven, wrote: "It is appalling that the school might be shutting down. I am going to miss my closest friends and all my teachers too. They have been helpful, loving and have been like friends to me. I am angry because I will miss the teachers and the people in my class."

One little boy, Richard Shaw, aged seven, had one special Christmas wish. He decided not to write his letter to the BEN but to plead to Santa Claus instead. He wrote: "Dear Santa for Christmas I don't want you to close my school because I will lose all my friends." Sophie Green, aged nine, wrote a poem entitled "Closure"

No clubs -- no friends

No happy feelings

No choice -- no space

No proper classrooms

No cheerfulness - no laughter

No intimate conversations

No computers -- no judo

No usual voices

No familiar looks

No comfortable feelings

No more bright redness

No friendly contact

No year memories

No love, no Longsight

Only nomadic children.