DRUG dealers near a Worcester primary are causing a "major problem" to those who are trying to turn the school around, it has been revealed.

An education panel heard how dealers have been seen near Elbury Mount Primary School.

It was failed by an Ofsted inspection team in December 1998, but was taken off Special Measures in 2000.

Councillor Malcolm Fordyce said he had become aware of dealers plaguing the area after talking to headteacher Kay Morgan.

"I'm delighted to see what's happening at the school," he said. "But it does have the problem with drug dealers who are close to the school's premises.

"Obviously the situation has a lot to do with the area in general, but I think the school is having a fairly major problem with drug dealers."

He said most difficulties arose during the summer months. Miss Morgan refused to comment.

Det Sgt Martin May, of Worcester police, urged the community to help the fight against drugs.

"One of the key tools in tackling the drugs issue is information," he said

"Not only the information we gather from our investigations, but information, no matter how small, we get from the public."

The school's intake has dropped over recent years and the education panel has agreed that it should provide 30 pupil places a year compared to 60. The surplus accommodation is to be released to develop lifelong learning initiatives for the benefit of the wider community.

The Brickfields school told Worcestershire LEA that it wishes to become a single-form entry school, which means it would be able to take 30 pupils during one intake.

In 1996, the school had 418 pupils and in September 2000 it had 185.

"There is a lot of good work going on in the community and some very worthwhile charities running," said city councillor Margaret Wills, who represents the St Barnabas Ward.

"I'm not aware of any problems with drugs."