A HAMPSHIRE boarding school for disabled children could be forced to close temporarily after four of its nine carers quit when their hours were slashed.

Bosses at Osbourne School in Winchester say the cost-cutting move - which will see the carers' working year cut from 52 weeks to term-time only - was forced upon them following Hampshire County Council's drive to increase salaries of traditionally low-paid workers.

Their weekly working hours will also be reduced from 42 hours to 37.

Union chiefs said the cutbacks could jeopardise pupil and staff safety at the school, which caters for ten boarding and 120 other students with profound disablilities.

However head teacher Rod Wakelam said the quality of care the school provides will not suffer and will in fact be more efficient.