WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's Cabinet has agreed to a request from governors at Ravensbank and Marlfield Farm first schools to go out to consultation on merging the two schools.

Both were earmarked for closure during the Redditch Review consultation to cut surplus school places in the town but they were removed from the closure list because of the strength of feeling from the Church Hill community.

But after seeing ever-decreasing intake numbers, governors from both schools have now agreed a merger would probably be the best option.

The Cabinet met on Monday and unanimously agreed to ask parents, staff and the surrounding communities on the issue.

Meetings will now be arranged for both schools.

The results of the consultation period will be fed back to Cabinet in December and, if a decision is required, public notices will be published in February.

Any possible merger would take place at the end of summer term next year.