TEMPORARY classrooms at Vale of Evesham schools have come under fire from an Evesham county councillor.

Councillor John Smith has urged the Education/Lifelong Learning Policy Advisory Panel of Worcestershire County Council to pass on a very strong message regarding the unacceptably high level of temporary accommodation for Evesham's First Schools.

A report to the panel highlighted that St Andrew's CE First School at Hampton had 47% of its children in temporary accommodation, only a slight improvement on the 1999 figure of 57%. Other schools in the town were no better, Coun Smith said, Bengeworth First School at 32.4%, St Richard's First School 34% and St Mary's with 17.3%, a total of over 400 young children.

"The rural areas fare no better with Bretforton at 33%, Pebworth at 34% and Sedgeberrow 48%," coun Smith said.

He stressed: "This cannot be good for children, staff or education in general as it puts tremendous pressure on central resources.

Action needs to be taken urgently, our young pupils deserve better from the county council."

Colin Weedon, head of policy at the county council, conceded there was a high percentage of temporary accommodation at schools in the area.

He explained: "There is to be a review of education in the Vale of Evesham next spring and the education department is waiting for the results of that to find out just how much new permanent accommodation is needed."