A governor has hit out at a report suggesting youngsters with behavioural problems could be based close to a primary school.

Councillor Howard Middleton (Lib Dem, Bolton) said he would oppose any plan to relocate pupils with difficulties from Ellar Carr School, Thackley, to the empty Wellington Middle School, next to Wellington Primary School.

The officers name Wellington and the former Bowling Park First School in Parkside in a report which will be discussed by councillors in September.

A Council spokesman stressed today it was not a proposal but a feasibility study into arrangements for children with behaviour problems.

But Coun Middleton, a governor of the primary school said: "This is a residential area very close to homes."

And he has written to officers who carried out the study: "If you wish we can take a tape measure out to illustrate how close the houses at Dudley Hill Road, Leeds Road and Manor Terrace are to the site."

He said he was concerned the officers were also acting on wrong information in naming the school as a possible location.

Coun Middleton has pointed out in his letter to education chiefs that the primary school had been told it would take over the playing fields and have the responsibility for maintaining them.

He asked if Wellington Primary would have no playing fields, or were they to share with older pupils with educational behaviour disorders.

The report is based on the possibly of finding two buildings where the pupils could be placed - separating them into older and younger age groups. They have not yet estimated how many pupils would be involved.

Labour Bowling ward councillor John Ryan said he would have no objection to empty Bowling Park school being used.

He added: "I would be keen to see the building used. These pupils should have some good provision. My concern would be that they would be segregated here, however, when the policy has been to integrate them where possible into mainstream education."

Coun Ryan said there also may not be enough pupils for the entire property and he would like to see other uses, including projects for the community.

The schools are empty as a result of the district's switch from three to two tier education last year.

Some will be retained for other uses but many will be sold.