BULLYING and truancy is blighting Christopher Whitehead High School because of its dilapidated buildings, a public inquiry has heard.

The claim was included in a summary of Worcestershire County Council's arguments about why the school, in St John's, Worcester, should be allowed to relocate to the outskirts of the city.

During yesterday's opening to the inquiry into the possible move, John Hobson QC, representing the county council, said the Government inspector would hear about a "compelling educational need" for the move.

He said inquiry witness Colin Weeden, the council's head of education policy, would talk of "deficiencies in the accommodation for a whole range of curriculum areas".

"He will describe knock-on effects such as bullying and truancy, management problems, security problems and problems in providing access for the disabled," added Mr Hobson.

He argued the move was not dependent on Tesco funding the relocation by being allowed to build a supermarket on the school site but said "it is plainly in the public interest" if a private developer could pay for it.

Michael Bedford, counsel for Worcester City Council, which opposes the relocation, said it was "abundantly clear" the county was backing the move because of Tesco.

"A major factor in the decision-making process was that the county would get the new school at no cost to itself," said Mr Bedford.

He added that the city council believes the school should remain on its current site, a decision that would "enable it to maintain its most striking transportation characteristic - that over 70 per cent of its pupils walk to school".

Inspector Frank Cherington spent yesterday afternoon visiting the school, the proposed new site and other sites the county council rejected.