NEWPORT council says it is looking into selling land currently used by a school at playtime.

The authority has said in a statement that it is considering selling land next to St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary school at Queen's Hill.

It said that some of the land is currently used by the school for outdoor play - but a councillor and governor said it would make the school impossible to function.

The authority is hoping to use funds raised from the sale of the Queen's Hill site to fund the redevelopment of the former Trading Standards depot on Stephen Street into a new pupil referral unit.

"Newport City Council is working closely with St Mary's RC Primary regarding the possible sale of adjacent land at Queen's Hill," a spokeswoman for the council said.

"Some of the land is currently used by the school for outdoor play, and recognising the importance of this part of the curriculum, the council is working with them to look at the layout of the site.

"The use of the land is currently on an informal basis."

"Once a way forward has been agreed, the council will look to formalise the agreement which will benefit the school."

Tory Allt-yr-Yn councillor and school governor David Fouweather said any developer wanting to use the land would have "huge problems" on the site.

"It would take away the playground, the little forest school, the school canteen - it would make it impossible for the school to function," he said.

He said the land sale would also affect the canteen - and that there were no cooking facilities within the main school building.

Cllr Fouweather has a son who attends the school but he has been given special dispensation to speak out on the issue.

Newport Council said there will be a number of consultation sessions later this month where members of the public can put forward thoughts about how the site can be used.

These will take place on Thursday, from 3pm to 7pm, and Friday from 10am to 1pm, at Locke St Community Centre, Queen's Hill.

The headteacher of St Mary's RC Primary Natalie Gould says she has no comment to make at present, ahead of the exhibitions taking place.