A Liberal Democrat move to halt a major new homes development in Gloucester has been attacked by Tory opponents as a "pre-election stunt."

The Liberal Democrats say they will halt the sale of a former school in Gloucester if they take control of Gloucestershire County Council at the local elections on May 4.

The Conservative-run county council want to build 90 houses on the former Bishop's College off Estcourt Close in Longlevens but the Lib Dems say the sale should be halted until a full review has been carried out into secondary school provision in the north of Gloucester.

The Lib Dems, who are the second largest party on the county council, are bidding to take control and oust the Conservatives after 12 years of rule at Shire Hall.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, Lib Dem county councillor for Kingsholm and Wotton, said: "There is no comprehensive school in the north of the city.

"Every day 2,000 children leave Gloucester to attend comprehensive schools outside of the city boundary. This is a ridiculous situation.

"With more than 14,000 new homes planned in the Gloucester area and most of these in the north as suggested in the Joint Core Strategy, we must agree a site for a new comprehensive secondary school to serve all these extra families.

"The sale of the Bishop's College site must be halted."

Local resident Linda Castle, who is the Lib Dem county council candidate for Longlevens, said: "There is a dire need for a brand new comprehensive secondary school to serve Longlevens and the north of Gloucester.

"Children attending secondary school in the future should have the same opportunity as I had and be able to go to a local school that's within walking distance."

But Cllr Paul Mclain, Tory Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "There's aren't enough pupils to justify another secondary school for Gloucester, and it would cost millions to build one on the derelict Bishop's College site.

"That could only be paid for with cuts for every other school in the county. This is a pre-election stunt to try to get newspaper headlines, ignoring the damage it would cause to schools across Gloucestershire."

Pictured: Liberal Democrat Cllr Jeremy Hilton and Linda Castle