PARENTS fear that Otley's remodelled primary schools will not be ready in time for the expected September opening.

Some parents claim to have learned that work to extend All Saints Infants, Lisker Drive, Westgate Infants, Scarborough Road, and Ashield Infants, Weston Drive, will not be finished in time for the new school year in September.

And they fear headteachers, all ready in place to take control of the new schools, will be called on to oversee more than one site at the same time.

But Education Leeds says it still intends to complete the £1.5 million remodelling, which will include new classrooms and improved sports areas, by the end of August. It adds that if there is any delay there will be discussions with the schools.

Sonya Conway, spokesman for the All Saints Juniors Parents Action Group, said parents believed planning issues to do with the fittings of safety sprinklers in the schools had delayed the start of building work.

The action group has been given the go ahead to appeal to the High Court against an earlier refusal to seek a judicial review against Leeds City Council's decision to close two primary schools in the town.

Mrs Conway said it was believed that contingency plans included Westgate School being run from All Saints, North Parade; the new All Saints Primary School being run from the All Saints annexe, Bridge Street, and Ashfield being run from Chippendale School.

But Deborah Hibberd, deputy chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "The intention is that work will be completed by the end of August, but there have been further discussions surrounding the work that is required."

Meanwhile, parents fear that before and after school provision will stop in September following the planned closure of All Saints Junior School.

At the moment, some 80 children are registered at either the before school or after school club, which meets at the school annexe in Bridge Street.

But Leeds City Council has attempted to allay their fears and has said that it is fully committed to providing the service and is talks to find another site in the town.