It was to be Councillor Warren Bradley's first executive meeting as leader of Liverpool Council, but proceedings were disrupted by the five minute action outside Liverpool Town Hall on Castle Street.

Chris Lighton from SNAG (Special Needs Action Group) called-on the new council chief to reject the plans to close Ashfield in Childwall and merge Meadowbank school in Fazakerley with Mersey View in Aigburth.

"Mainstream schools just do not have the resources or the specialist teachers to give our children the best start in life.

"The report says it will go out to consultation, but it's just a sham, they have already made their minds up."