THE government has thrown a lifeline to dozens of anxious parents battling to stop the controversial merger of two Southampton schools.

education secretary David Blunkett has called in a council application which would lead to the closure of Surrey House Infant School in Sholing. It means officials at the Department for Education and Employment have at least two more months to consider objections.

Jubilant parents today welcomed Mr Blunkett's decision as a boost to their campaign.

Carol Skelton, whose children Amy, six, and Jack, four, are pupils, said: "He could have just looked at our objections and said there was no substance to them. Now we have a glimmer of hope."

The DfEE will also order the city council to supply further documentation on the plan, which would see more than 100 Surrey House pupils moved to nearby Heathfield Infant School next summer. The combined roll of around 330 children would be one of the biggest at an infant school in eastern Southampton.

City education chiefs say the merger is part of an essential shake-up to remove nearly 1,200 surplus primary places predicted over the next four years. Parents disagree with the projected calculations and have raised a number of concerns including loss of preferences and unacceptable traffic congestion.

Opposition members on the city council have also voted against the amalgamation.

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Margaret Singerman said: "I am glad Mr Blunkett is taking more time to think about this. It's a very important issue."

A DfEE spokeswoman said: "We have called this in because there were objections." A council spokesman said he understood there was nothing unusual about the situation.

He added: "We will have to hand over further papers but as far as we are concerned this is what happens when an application is lodged and objections are made."

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