Parents in Dudley have launched a battle to save five primary schools from closing under a reorganisation drive by education chiefs.

Dudley Council said the closures were necessary in the face of falling birthrates.

It predicted there would be more than 5,000 empty seats in the borough's primary schools by the end of the decade.

Because Government funding depends on pupil numbers, it said failing to act would result in resources being over-stretched.

But parents at the affected schools claimed their children's education would suffer as pupils are forced to re-settle elsewhere, often involving longer journeys.

The five closure-threatened schools are Highfields in Coseley; Beauty Bank in Stourbridge; Sycamore Green in Dudley; Maidensbridge in Wall Heath and Holt Farm in Halesowen.

Councillor David Vickers, Dudley's cabinet member for education, said: "Due to the decline in birth rate, like other authorities we have been experiencing a drop in the number of new pupils starting primary schools year- on- year for some time.

" Dudley Council is determined to take action to reduce these surplus places, which are expensive to maintain.

"With surplus capacity removed there will be less spent on buildings and support costs and more invested in front line services, staff and better equipment."

Dudley's proposals will affect all but 21 of its 82 primaries.

As well as the five closures, a further 37 will see reduced capacity, but pupil numbers will grow at 17 schools.

Phil Everington, head of Holt Farm Primary, said closing his school would deprive the local community of a vital resource.

"In terms of pure money, I can understand what they are doing, but it doesn't account for the standards this school achieves," he said.

" The atmosphere in which pupils learn and the fact that the school has been serving the community here well for 100 years."

Dudley Council's plans would see pupils at Holt spread between Hurst Green Primary and Olive Hill, which are both about half-a-mile away.

But Mr Everington said some parents would face a considerable increase in journey time meaning more were likely to drive their children to school, contributing to congestion.

A process of consultation with parents, teachers and the community is underway until October 21. If go-ahead is given, the changes will start coming into force next September.

The authority claims not acting will result in staff cuts and increased workload for teachers as schools struggle to cope on limited budgets.

Maintaining surplus places also removes money that could be spent on improving schools, it said.