TORY leaders have done a U-turn and decided NOT to "call in" the school closures decision for a final look.

Last week, they said that the strategic review of the schools which has led to the proposed closure of Broad Oak and Prestwich was flawed because it started with the aim of closing two schools.

But after receiving "additional information" from the council, they have now decided that the consultation was not flawed.

Monday's special meeting of the children and young people scrutiny commission, which they had demanded, has now been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the headteachers of eight Bury high schools those which escaped the chop have issued a statement saying they agree with the council's decision.

Tory leader Bob Bibby said: "I was led to believe that, at an early meeting, it was decided that two schools should close, and that was why the consultation was flawed.

"I have now received assurances from the headteachers, and senior education officers, that this did not happen, and that people started with a blank sheet of paper."

Coun Bibby said that he was no longer opposed to the closure of these two schools, as there was no alternative.

The Tories would not reverse the decision if they took control in May's elections, but would see what better support they could give the schools to maintain children's education.

The Tories' decision has infuriated Liberal Democrat members: they had also wanted to call in the item but, with only five councillors, they were three short of the number needed to do so.

Lib Dem councillor Vic D'Albert said: "It took them four months to decide they were opposed to the decision, then another two weeks to call it in, and then within a week to change that.

"For a party that has aspirations of running the council, they cannot run in a straight line as far as I can tell.

"It's incredible they don't want to allow the most important council decision for years to be scrutinised to make sure everything has been done properly."

Coun D'Albert thought it was odd that the headteachers' letter should be sent out from Bury town hall on the chief executive's letterheaded paper, and was followed shortly afterwards by a council statement saying how much they agreed.

Coun Wayne Campbell, council leader, said the teachers' letter gave "a balanced and alternative perspective" to the people of Bury.

"All along we have made the point that once the problem of falling rolls in Bury was highlighted, every school in the borough agreed that doing nothing was not an option. We have throughout acted responsibly, not politically, for the future of every child who attends school across the borough."

The proposed closures of Broad Oak and Prestwich will now be approved or rejected by the Schools Organisation Committee.

Mr Neil O'Connor, headteacher of Broad Oak, declined to make any comment about the joint heads letter.

Despite repeated calls, Mr Geoff Barlow, head at Prestwich, was unavailable for comment.