Governors and staff at two closure-threatened Liversedge schools have been told no children should be taken to a demonstration at Kirklees Council's meeting on Wednesday.

The instruction came from the Kirklees Director of Lifelong Learning, Gavin Tonkin.

Protests at the possible closures of R M Grylls Middle School and High Bank First School in Hightown, Liversedge, are planned to take place outside Dewsbury Town Hall.

Two coachloads of parents and children were expected to leave the schools at 1pm to see a petition handed in to Kirklees Mayor Councillor Margaret Bates.

Peter Ward, chairman of the Windybank Schools Action Committee, said Mr Tonkin had no right to decide whether or not children could attend.

"Mr Tonkin does not have the power to tell parents that their children cannot attend this meeting. It is a vital part of the education of every child that they see democracy in action."

He said a report on the fate of the two schools was apparently ready to send to the Council's Executive Committee. This group will review the report before it becomes public.

Mr Ward said Councillor John Smithson, who has responsibility for education in Kirklees, had not yet responded to invitations to visit either of the schools.