PRIMARY schools in Birkenhead and Beechwood will be the first to be reviewed to address the problem of plummeting pupil numbers on Wirral's school rolls.

Politicians have not ruled out closing schools down but have stressed that all other available options will be investigated.

According to birth-rate data, 2,000 fewer pupils will require primary school provision over the next five years - continuing a trend that has resulted in over 3,000 fewer pupils in the system for 2004 than there were in 1999.

Wirral council's cabinet member for education Cllr Phil Davies said: "Doing nothing is not an option. We know that between 2001 and 2009 we will have lost around 4,000 pupils in our primary schools. The problem is that we are spending a lot of money on places rather than kids, which is not an effective use of public money. We need to redistribute money to where the kids are."

Birkenhead and Beechwood have been chosen as the first areas to be reviewed because they show the most dramatic fall in pupil numbers.

The situation is also affected by housing developments in Birkenhead, Tranmere and Seacombe that will change the social make-up of areas.

A total of 25 primary schools, their heads and governors, the council, the diocesan bodies and external bodies will be involved in a preliminary round of consultation to explore options.

They will hand over all information pertaining to their area and representatives are being asked to suggest their own solutions in a bid to find the best way forward.

Cllr Davies continued: "At the moment I can't be as definitive as to say schools will or won't merge or close.

"I have an open mind at how we deal with the falling spaces. We can let the schools be used for a number of other purposes such as community centres and pre-schools."