THREE primary schools could be rebuilt and five others refurbished as part a multi-million pound investment programme revealed by Southend Council.

Fairways and Blenheim primary schools in Leigh are being considered for a total rebuild on their existing sites because both will need significant maintenance over the next 25 years.

The proposals were revealed after a council survey on the state of the district's schools revealed £869,000 needs to be spent at Blenheim, £942,000 at Fairways, £1,975,000 at Prince Avenue Primary, £736,000 at Eastwood Primary and £1,023,000 at Westborough Primary, Westcliff.

Southend Council admitted Fairways and Blenheim could be rebuilt in the next 14 years as part of the council's primary strategy for change, funded by the Government.

However, in the first phase over the next five years, the council intends to move one school to a plush new building on a new site and refurbish four others.

Hinguar Primary School in Shoebury is set to be moved into a new £11million school on the Garrison estate.

Porters Grange School in Southchurch, Prince Avenue School in Prittle- well, Eastwood primary and Kingsdown special school in Eastwood would all be given a facelift.

Roger Hadley, councillor responsible for education, said: "This is an important programme for the town and gives us the opportunity to make a real difference to primary schools in the town.

"The aim over 14 years is to completely rebuild five per cent of the primary schools in the town and carry out major works to 45 per cent of the remainder.

"The programme will be entirely funded by the Government so there will not be any cost to the council taxpayers of Southend."

However, Mary Lubel, chairman of the governors at Westborough Primary School in Westcliff said she had hoped her school would also attract some investment.

At the moment, a possible refurbishment of West- borough is included in the second phase of the work to start after 2013, even though the council admits the school is too cramped.

Mrs Lubel, a former Lib Dem councillor and education committee chairman, said: "Westbororough is an old school and one of our problems lies with the hall.

"Because there are pillars there the children cannot all be seen at the same time. Health and safety requirements mean it cannot be used for gymnastics and some other activities, so unless the weather is fine the children are missing out."