SIXTY pupils have been sent home after the merger of two Blackburn primary schools hit a snag -- just days into the autumn term.

St Bartholomew's CE Primary School in Bolton Road, Blackburn, merged with St Andrew's CE, Scotland Bank Terrace to become The Redeemer School.

But children have been sent home until Thursday because essential building work hasn't been completed.

Parents today demanded to be kept more informed.

Children were expected to use both school sites until December when all 200 pupils will transfer to the St Bartholomew's site in temporary classrooms. They will stay there for two years.

The £3million school will be built in Ewood, on the Fernhurst Farm estate, and is due to open in 2006.

Two mixed-aged classes were sent home on Monday after building contractors, who should have finished their work over the summer break, turned up to move a wall.

One Blackburn dad, who declined to be named, said: "That work should have been done in summer.

"It's disgusting and should not have been allowed to happen."

Peter Morgan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's director of education and lifelong learning, said: "Contractors have failed to complete work which had been faithfully promised for completion. As always, children's safety and well-being are paramount, hence a decision has had to be taken to keep some children out of school until Thursday when the work will have been completed.

"Infant children are in school as usual as they are unaffected."

Headteacher Alison Taylor, who was formerly head at Hawthorns Junior School, Blackburn, said: "Technically, St Andrew's and St Bartholomew's closed this summer . "We will operate on two sites for this first term."