LEOMINSTER MP Bill Wiggin has urged Herefordshire Council to "step in and stop" the draft schools closure programme that has united communities across the county in opposition.

The Local Education Authority plan unveiled last week, would see 37 schools shut or merged. The result has been the biggest stand-off yet between the county and its council.

Given the extent of opposition over the past week, Mr Wiggin has now urged the council's controlling Conservative group to step in and stop the "draconian" draft plan from going any further.

"This plan has no political backing, it was not released by politicians. Moves must be taken to ensure council officers do not put plans like (the school closures) before the public without political approval," said Mr Wiggin.

The MP and Tory candidate for Hereford Jesse Norman have met with council cabinet members to outline their concerns at the way the plan was released and the subsequent reaction.

Any decision over the future for schools in the county should be driven by greater detail than that currently being used to make the case for change, said Mr Wiggin.

"We want to know more about projected population statistics and what money is coming from Whitehall," he said.

Herefordshire schools, said Mr Wiggin, deserved better for providing some of the best results in the country while being the third worst funded in Britain.