UNION officials opposed to plans to shut a primary school have urged education chiefs to "stop tinkering" with childrens' education.

Adrian Gregson, Unison's Worcestershire branch secretary for more than 15 years, said his union was against Worcestershire County Council proposals to shut Lickhill Primary and merge it with nearby Stourport Primary School in 2010.

Mr Gregson said: "Lickhill staff have already been through the Wyre Forest Schools Review and been messed about. We also have an issue about whether the process is a legitimate one.

"In our experience across the county with consultations, no matter what response is received, the cabinet, nine times out of 10, will run with what their officers recommend."

He added staff at Stourport Primary were being asked to help decide the future of Lickhill while having a "vested interest" in keeping their own jobs safe.

A group of parents of pupils at Lickhill Primary has been campaigning against the plans.

Stourport Parents Against the Merger (SPAM), which is now known as Stourport Parents In favour of Choice in Education (SPICE) wants education chiefs to reconsider the plans.

Spokesman Graham Harvey said: "Many parents chose Lickhill Primary School because of its smallness, friendliness, community spirit, good education standards, caring staff, family atmosphere, beautiful outlook over Stagborough Hill, wrap-around care facilities and its long-running excellence in the teaching and learning of ICT which culminated in it winning a national award in November 2006.

"To close a centre of excellence and specialist provision is ridiculous and will not only cause standards to fall as the award-winning staff seek jobs elsewhere but it will also cut choice for parents in Stourport to practically nothing."

Consultations over the school's future ended on Friday last week after Worcestershire County Council officers recommended plans to shut classrooms and merge with nearby Stourport Primary, making it two-form entry.

A new expanded Stourport Pimary Shool would then be built on the former Lickhil Middle site in 2010.

Worcestershire education bosses will decide whether to press ahead with the controversial plans at a County Hall hall meeting on Wednesday, March 5.