LEAVE our schools alone! That was the message from parents at Tanners Brook schools last night, as they heard plans to shake-up places in Southampton.

More than 50 people turned out to a meeting Tanners Brook Infant School, in Elmes Drive, for the first in a series of discussions about the future of schools in Millbrook and Redbridge.

Pupil numbers are falling in the area, and by 2008, one in five classroom places will be empty.

Southampton City Council education chiefs have put forward six options.

At least 400 school places have to go in the area to make schools viable. Head of education Andrew Hind told the meeting last night: "Surplus spaces cost money, and that could be spent on providing education. This is not about saving money. The money follows the children."

However, there was anger at the prospect, in two of the options, that Tanners Brook Infant and Junior schools could reduce in size by a third - while £5m of government money could be spent on rebuilding Redbridge School and Newlands Primary.

Robert Lovell, who has a daughter at the school and attended Tanners Brook himself, said: "I don't see the point of taking 60 children out of a school that's doing really well and spending money on a school that's not."

Rita Baker, head teacher of Tanners Brook Infant, added: "We would prefer to stay where we are. The bigger the intake, the more capacity the school has to take on special needs children and spread them across the year group."

Similar meetings are due to take place at other schools affected by the shake-up, starting with Mason Moor Primary tonight at 7.30pm.

Parents, teachers and governors have a chance to vote for one of the options by April 11.