BURNLEY could have four new state-of-the-art schools if a bid for £80m government cash is successful.

The funding would trigger a radical review of secondary school organisation in the town and would tackle many long-standing problems, such as the annual admissions difficulties, which led to the creation of the DIY school last year.

Speaking at the launch of the bid for money from the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme, County Councillor Alan Whittaker, cabinet member for education, said this was the start of the process to transform education in Burnley.

He said: "The capital bid being developed provides a significant opportunity to develop and reshape secondary school arrangements.

"It is a chance for everyone to join together in developing new state-of-the-art secondary schools fully equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century."

Specific proposals for the bid, which has to be submitted by October 31, have yet to be drawn up.

But Jack Bennett, director of special projects for the county council, said he would be looking to build four new schools, to open in 2009/2010, if the bid were successful. He added that two schools were likely to be closed because of the number of surplus places, which currently stands at 600 and is expected to increase in the future.

A major education conference is being held for teachers and governors from all the town's schools is being held at Turf Moor football ground on August 27 to discuss the bid and its implications.

Issues on the agenda will include the number, size and location of schools, the future of single sex schools and arrangements for children with special educational needs and for young people aged 14-19.

Burnley Council and the town's MP Peter Pike have both thrown their support behind the bid.

The leader of Burnley Council, Councillor Stuart Caddy, said: "The review will tackle the range of problems which too many parents and children have been frustrated by for years.

"This is about building the best possible schools for the future of education in Burnley. It is of the utmost importance to everybody within the borough."

Mr Pike said this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to improve educational opportunities for children in the town.

He said: "There is an opportunity here for the government, the county council and the borough council to give us something better for the future and I fully back it."