THE campaign to rebuild four York schools was taken to London when a delegation met with Government minister Jacqui Smith.

They pressed home the increasing pressures on Hob Moor Junior and Infant Schools in Acomb, St Oswald's CE Primary School in Fulford and St Barnabas's CE Primary School in Leeman Road, which are all in urgent need of rebuilding work.

The two Hob Moor schools were made of corrugated aluminium in the 1950s; St Oswald's and St Barnabas's are using old and cramped buildings.

City of York Council is making a bid for Government approval for a £15 million private finance package to rebuild the schools, its fifth bid in three years.

The delegation was led by York MP Hugh Bayley and Coun Janet Looker, executive member for education.

They were joined by Jane Williamson, chairwoman of governors at St Oswald's, and Craig Shaw, head of education management services at the council.

They stressed that, as well as the state of the school buildings, the need at St Oswald's and St Barnabas's was urgent because of new house building at Fulford and potential new housing behind the station near Leeman Road. They highlighted the social need in the Hob Moor area of Acomb.

They also told Ms Smith about the council's plans to expand early years services in the city, increasing the need for more space.

Ms Smith told them that the 44 bids which had been shortlisted nationwide added up to £1.5 billion but the maximum total value she could approve was £0.4 billion.

Mr Bayley said he had also pointed out that it was a small bid, compared with bids from other areas, and also that schools in York which had less need had received cash for refurbishment work from the Government while the four bid schools were still waiting.

He said: "Under the timetable we are hoping for a decision by March."

Coun Looker said: "We are all crossing our fingers again."

Ms Williamson and Mr Shaw said it was a "very constructive" meeting, which gave them the chance to say how important the schools were to the communities they served.