A BID to make a Victorian school house in Bidford a listed building has failed.

Developers want to demolish the building, in Victoria Road, and build four houses in its place but campaigners hoped their emergency application to the Secretary of State would have prevented this.

But government advisers have said the school house is not of sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit listing and has had too many alterations.

A letter to Bidford and Salford Priors councillor Kim James said: "It should also be pointed out that the Secretary of State cannot take any planning threats into account when making her decision.

"The only criteria are those relating to the historical and architectural interest of the building."

Mr James said he was disappointed with the decision.

Stratford District Council's west area planning committee will consider the application, by Westbury Homes, at a meeting tomorrow.