Council chiefs have pledged to fight for a piece of land to extend a Bradford school.

Overcrowded Miriam Lord Primary School in Church Street, Manningham, wants to turn the neighbouring reservoir site into playing fields and extend the present building into the playground to provide a new library, five classrooms and a computer suite.

Plans for the extension have been on hold since the Council lost out to a higher bidder earlier this year but fresh talks have started after the land was put back on the market.

And at a meeting at the school, Council officials said they were waiting to hear from solicitors representing a consortium of businessmen who own the land.

Rob Mally, head of service capital strategy at Bradford Council's client team, said: "To secure the future of Miriam Lord and to get better facilities is to secure that reservoir.

"That's our objective and number one goal. We view what we have here as a temporary solution and we want to replace it as soon as possible."

The Council will not reveal how much it is prepared to pay for the site but it appears the owners are inviting offers from bidders.

Bradford Council's head of asset management, Mike Bell, said: "The land has substantial costs involved in terms of bringing it into use and we would expect this to be reflected in any acquisition agreement. We are quite fortunate that we have a second bite of the cherry.

"I was in touch with the agent representing the owners and will continue that dialogue to ensure we are successful."

If the Council is successful, the changes could be in place by 2006 but if it fails in its bid, the school will be forced to extend its existing building onto the play area.

Already teachers have a shortage of storage space and nowhere to hold meetings and the school has to have three play times and lunch breaks as there is not enough space for the 500 pupils.

Headteacher Angela Ronicle, who took up her post in September, said: "I feel we have to look to the future. I know what's happened in the past but that's done and we cannot change it.

"As a new head, I have to admire and congratulate the pupils for the way they manage to work in this environment. Considering the conditions they are under, their behaviour is very good.

"The staff work in extremely difficult conditions. There is a fantastic team here and they deserve so much more than they have."