THOUSANDS of people took to the streets on Saturday, Febraury 1, for one of the biggest protest marches Bury has seen.

Police estimate 4,000 teachers, parents and children marched from Bury Athletic Track to the town hall in protest of massive cuts to school spending.

Representatives from almost all the borough's primary schools joined the march, and their message was clear: "SOS - Save Our Schools."

A sea of banners was carried along Angouleme Way as the crowds chanted: "No ifs, no buts, no education cuts," and "school cuts won't heal."

Despite a happy atmosphere, with hundreds of smiling youngsters, the message was deadly serious.

The march came after Bury Council revealed its plans to chop £2.3 million from primary school budgets and to make more cuts to secondary and community education.

Once at the town hall, Chris Blomerley, head of Gorsefield County Primary School and treasurer of Bury Association of Primary Heads, laid a wreath on the steps with the message "RIP: Primary Education."

Mrs Eroica Kelly, a teacher at Elton County Primary School summed up the feeling of the crowd when she said: "The children of Bury are being short changed again." Mrs Kath Daws, of Southfield Road, Holcombe Brook, who has a child at Holcombe Brook County Primary School added: "It is our children's birthright, they are entitled to a proper education."

Chesham County Primary School mum, Mrs Carole Moran, of Danesmoor Drive, Bury said: "The feeling here is very, very strong. We can't keep cutting back on education. It is the last thing that should go."

But Coun David Ryder, chairman of the education committee, said the council was not to blame for the cuts.

"I hate the cuts as much as you," he said. "And my family are down there with you."

Mr Peter Parker, chairman of the Bury Association of Primary Heads, was joined by Mr Blomerley and Bury's mayor and deputy mayor, Coun Trevor Holt and Coun Richard Fletcher, on the town hall balcony to address the throng of protesters.

Speaking above the chanting crowds, Mr Parker thanked the people for their support, and said: "You have shown that you believe in the young children of this town.

"And the head teachers of Bury hope that every teacher will still be in work in September."

Coun Holt added: "We are all parents and grandparents, and it is impossible to ignore such a display of concern."

To a shout from the crowd of "But will it work?" Mr Parker replied: "Yes, it is going to work, if we believe in it."

Members of the borough's Community Education Service, facing cuts of more than half a million pounds, also joined the protest.

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