Anxious parents packed Bradford Council chamber clutching placards in protest against plans to close seven primary schools across the district.

Around 50 supporters of the Save Hoyle Court Primary School campaign, including parent Claire Dooley, pictured, turned up to voice their anger at the executive committee in City Hall.

Phil Green, director for education, told the meeting officers had "no choice" but to act to solve problems of surplus places and any changes were likely to be controversial.

But Michael Heaton, chairman of governors at the Baildon school, branded the proposals "ill-conceived, short-sighted and flawed" and was clapped by parents.

Other schools facing cost-cutting closure in July 2004 are Woodlands Primary at Oakenshaw, Leytop Primary at Allerton, Parkland at Thorpe Edge, Thorpe Primary at Idle, Cooper Lane Primary at Clayton Heights and Westwood Park Primary.

Mr Heaton said there was already a waiting list for pre-school places for the Fyfe Grove school this September and next, that it had top marks for SATS and was first choice in the area.

"It is unfair and unreasonable to begin to address this problem of surplus places by proposing closing a school that doesn't have a problem."

David Ward, executive member for education, said it was important to remember this stage was a consultation process.

"There are proposals in this document which I am opposed to. There are two schools in my own ward. But I am confident we will end up with good decisions at the end of this."

Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group, asked how much the land was worth to the Council, saying that was one of the parent's concerns - but this was dismissed as a "cheap jibe" by Councillor Ward.

Coun Greenwood put forward an amendment to withdraw the proposals for further investigations, which was lost.

Simon Cooke, deputy Conservative leader, said: "We have got to make a decision to close some schools so people will be upset about it; that is not to say this school but if we make a different decision are we going to have a different set of parents and governors sitting around us?"

The committee approved the process for consultation and invited people affected by the proposal to submit alternative ideas.

Parents of Cooper Lane Primary School issued a statement which raised concerns about the school being earmarked for building land and about where children from a new estate would be educated.