DEMOLITION work is due to start on the old school buildings in Bidford - despite a campaign by villagers to save it.

Stratford District Council gave developers Westbury Homes Ltd permission to bulldoze the building in Victoria Road in February.

The developers have submitted a planning application to build four terraced cottage-style houses on the site. The plans, which are yet to be approved, include a condition that the old school house is retained.

A senior planner at the district council, Tony Horton, said: "A legal application is yet to be finalised by the legal team which will grant planning permission to Westbury subject to them keeping the old school house in its original condition."

Councillor Peter Barnes, Warwickshire County councillor for the Bidford ward and district councillor for the Welford ward, said: "I am very disappointed with what is going on.

"I am very annoyed that despite our efforts they still managed to get the application through. Nobody in Bidford wants the new homes, from the age of eight to the age of 80. This work will not enhance Bidford at all."

Letters were delivered to Bidford residents from Westbury Homes Ltd last Thursday informing villagers about the demolition work and apologising for the inconvenience. No-one from Westbury Homes was available for comment as the Journal went to press.