Trade unions have attacked plans to close three schools in a major shake-up of a town's education system.

The North Sussex Trade Union Council has slammed West Sussex County Council's proposals for schools in Crawley.

The plans would merge first and middle schools to create all-through primary schools for children from four to 11 and also change the age at which children transfer from primary to secondary schools from 12 to 11.

The group said the council should make better use of resources instead of cutting schools when the town's population was growing.

Chairman Paul Smith, himself a school governor, said: "The issue about the age of transfer is not a major bone of contention.

"However, there is going to be extensive reorganisation which will involve the closure of three schools, the merger of a number of others and the selling off of playing fields. We feel the proposals are unacceptable.

"They should take advantage of the age transfer to reduce primary school class sizes and certainly should not be proposing to lose schools."

The schools earmarked for closure in the consultation documents are Southgate First School, Southgate Middle School and West Green First School.

Mr Smith said the closures would put an extra burden on parents to get their children to schools farther from home.

He added: "The children who will be affected will be expected to travel from West Green. Northgate will become the natural feeder school with Ifield as an alternative. We are talking about primary school children travelling distances which are unacceptable.

"These are not children who are old enough to travel to school on their own.

"We need local schools which are also a resource the community can use."

A county council spokeswoman stressed no decisions would be taken before consultation had finished.

She said the council was looking at the use of playing fields at Thomas Bennett Community College and Ifield Community College and the future of leisure facilities in Crawley.

She said: "The point is we are working closely with Crawley Borough Council about provision of leisure facilities, which will be available for the whole community."

Other plans for schools in the town include a £60 million Government scheme, which would provide a new secondary school in Maidenbower, the rebuilding of Thomas Bennett Community College and Ifield Community College and the remodelling of Hazelwick School.

Yasmin Muskatiya, headteacher at Thomas Bennett, said: "There has not been a lot of capital investment in the college over the last 20 years and the place needs a significant facelift."

Consultation papers and comments have to be at the education department, County Hall, Chichester, by March 22.