A DISABLED father-of-four from Bournemouth says his family will have to split up if Townsend School closes.

Wheelchair-user Luke Wilson and his wife Amanda moved to a specially-built property in Ibbertson Close specifically to be close to the primary school and conveniently near the hospital for when he needs treatment.

Mr Wilson, 35, said: "If the school closes, which is looking increasingly likely, our only option is to split the family, which would be horrible."

Currently their eldest son Ryan, 13, goes to the Bishop of Winchester School and Courtney, 10, and Jordan, six, attend Townsend Primary School.

Mr Wilson said: "We are not happy with the choice of schools offered by the council if Townsend closes. We want them to go to either Kinson Primary or Elmrise, but they are too far away.

"This would mean my wife and one-year-old Angel and our two younger children would need to live with a relative at Bear Cross during the week within walking distance of the schools."

Mr Wilson would stay in Townsend with Ryan so he can continue to attend the Bishop of Winchester and the family would only be together at weekends.

He said: "It is going to be very, very difficult and stressful.

"My wife is my carer and she dresses my wounds every day so I would have to get someone else in to do that.

"Adults can be adaptable but I am worried about how it will affect the children." He is also concerned that Courtney, who is a talented dancer, would have to give up her ballet classes because of the move.

Councillors are expected to make a final decision on the school's future tomorrow - without waiting for an Ofsted report, due weeks later, which is expected to say the school is improving.

Mr Wilson said: "We are just one of many families in this kind of situation and everyone will have to make new arrangements when the school closes.

"It really does not make sense for them to close the school. I don't know why they cannot wait for the Ofsted report.

"The council is not very popular at the moment and they could have helped themselves by using some common sense."

Bournemouth council has cited five main reasons for the proposal to close Townsend school.

It says recent external inspections have judged the quality of education as inadequate and pupils perform poorly in national tests.

The number of children attending the school has been consistently falling, meaning the per pupil cost of running the school is exceptionally high, and the school is also said to have problems in recruiting staff.