With the demolition of the historic Leigh Girls' Grammar School (LGGS) building looming to make way for a new primary school the Prince's Regeneration Trust has appealed to Wigan Council to consider alternative plans.

In a letter from the Trust, chief executive Ros Kerslake said: "I have learned that sadly, despite overwhelming opposition and contrary to national guidelines, your council has decided to demolish this building and build a completely new school.

"I understand that demolition is imminent, yet the new building has been constructed alongside the former LGGS building and could easily function with the old building remaining.

"We expressed ourselves willing to explore potential new uses with you and are disappointed that this was not taken up.

"Could I urge you even at this late stage to show that Wigan really does believe in preserving the best elements of its built environment heritage?"

Save Our School campaigners have called for the site in Windermere Road, used by Leigh Central Primary until they moved into the new merged school building with Leigh Sacred Heart Primary, to be turned into a Leigh Heritage and Environmental Education Centre.

But the campaign looks set to fail after a spokesman for Wigan Council confirmed that demolition work has started at the site. A response has now been sent to The Prince's Regeneration Trust.

Campaign leader Avis Freeman said: "While the building is still there we will continue fighting. There are so many alternatives for this building but it doesn't look like Wigan Metro is going to change its mind."

The council was given planning permission to build a new primary school on the site of Leigh Central and Sacred Heart Catholic primary schools.

But the project was thrown into doubt when campaigners called for the Sacred Heart building, which was the former Leigh Girls' Grammar School, to be saved.

Then conservation group English Heritage announced that it was considering an application to make the school a listed building.

But after an investigation, English Heritage said it would not be considering Leigh Central for listing.

The decision meant the council's plans for the new site could continue.