PROTESTERS packed into Bury Town Hall to demand why their high schools are under threat.

They peppered councillors with questions, demanding to know why popular and full schools might be closed or merged.

At last week's meeting, some accused the council of acting for financial gain rather than, as education bosses say, the need to tackle a falling school-age population.

The threats affect eight of the borough's secondary schools, which have been put into four pairs for consultation purposes: Derby and Broad Oak, Elton and Tottington, Philips and Castlebrook, and Prestwich and Parrenthorn. The council will decide early next year what to do.

Councillor Maggie Gibb, executive member for children and young people, said schools were full now because the population had peaked. Current primary school rolls showed that numbers would fall and leave 2,000 empty places in a decade's time in high schools.

She said that, as money follows the pupil, schools could not afford to be half-empty. She also said that any money raised by the sale of school sites would be re-invested in education.

* Bosses have now published tables showing the number of applications for local secondary schools next year, by first preference.

The figures show that only two state schools and two faith schools were over-subscribed, and only one of those (Philips) faces possible closure.

The total includes those who have also applied to private schools; last year, 183 pupils subsequently took up places in the independent sector. There are 161 applications outstanding, but many of those will have applied for places outside the borough, such as at King David High School.

Council leader Wayne Campbell said: "We've had a number of requests from schools, governing bodies, elected members and concerned parents for current information on applications to individual schools. We sent these figures out ahead of schedule on Friday and we want people to know that we are doing all we can to respond to enquiries for information."