LABOUR leaders are threatening to sue their Liberal Democrat rivals as the temperature over the closure of Bury high schools reaches boiling point.

They are angry that the Lib Dems issued a statement from a "former council employee" who claimed that town hall bosses had identified Prestwich and Broad Oak for possible closure well before the formal consultation started.

Coun Wayne Campbell, council leader, said it was a "disgraceful attempt to gain a few cheap votes" at the upcoming local elections.

He said he would take legal action against the Lib Dems unless they revealed their source, and would also report them to the Standards Board for England for their behaviour. If they disclosed their source, they would consider legal action against that person.

Coun Tim Pickstone, Lib Dem leader, said: "The facts of this issue are clear. An important former employee of the council made a sworn declaration on the issue of secondary school closures which raised serious concerns on the consultation process around the closure of secondary schools.

"As a party we would never seek to cause personal upset or interfere with the proper workings of the council. Therefore we have consulted with the former employee who has indicated that they would be happy for their details to be passed to the authority.

"Closing secondary schools is an important issue which will affect children and communities for years to come.

"The Liberal Democrats remain opposed to the closure process and will continue to fight to save Prestwich Arts College and Broad Oak High."