PLANS to cater for the expansion of a popular borough Catholic school are set to be progresed.

Governors at Blessed Thomas Holford RC College in Altrincham have highlighted that they have been oversubscribed with applications for the past eight years.

Extra classrooms have been added recently at the Urban Road establishment.

But councillors have been told that the effect of increasing admissions has left a "significant shortfall of accommodation".

In a report Jill McGregor, Trafford's corporate director for children's services, said: "The school has been teaching children in spaces which are not designated classrooms and therefore the existing building capacity is close to being exceeded.

"If the current level of places cannot be maintained there will be insufficient places to meet the needs of baptised Catholic children living within the area in the first instance, and, as a result will add to the oversubscription levels at other, secular schools, in Trafford."

Under plans now endorsed by Cllr Catherine Hynes, executive member for children's social care, a new block is to be constructed on site to support the increasing roll.

This was the preferred option following a public consultation exercise, ahead of building on open space off Urban Road and Welman Way, and constructing two blocks on site instead.

Some concerns were expressed as part of the exercise about current and potential traffic congestion from residents, relating to parents and the sports academy.