OPPOSITION parties are calling for Southend Council to ditch its controversial plans to merge the town's two failing schools days before the consultation is due to end.

People have until Friday to let Southend Council know their views about the proposed amalgamation of Thorpe Bay School and Prittlewell Technology College, but opposition parties have already denounced the plans.

Labour has been campaigning against it and distributing leaflets door to door in parts of Southend.

Liberal Democrats also oppose the merger and feel there should not be a forced merger in the short term and that the failing schools should be given more time. If there was to be a merger in the future it should be on a completely new site.

Martin Terry, one of four independent councillors to oppose the merger, said: "It's adjacent to the hospital and it's adjacent to one of the most densely populated wards in Britain. It's going to cause congestion and parking problems."

Southend Council insisted it has to do something about the two schools as the Government announced this summer failing schools will now only have a year to turn things round.