Plans to demolish part of a primary school in Sidcup and rebuild it with an extension have been approved.

Birkbeck Primary School in Alma Road has been given the green light to build 12 extra classrooms, a studio and a new library.

The decision was made at a council meeting last week.

The scheme will have some buildings at the school knocked down and replaced with a two storey extension, making the school big enough to accept more pupils.

According to the proposals, the demand for school places in Bexley has been increasing every year since 2009.

A school spokesman said: "The leaders and governors of Birkbeck Primary School are pleased that the expansion project for the school has been approved.

"We feel that it is the right decision for the future of the school and its pupils."

The school is oversubscribed and has waiting lists for most year groups - with 45 children not offered a Reception place at Birkbeck in September 2016.

That year, all 60 reception places were given to children who lived within 0.4 miles of the school.

When applying for the extension, the school, which is rated good by Ofsted, said: "Birkbeck Primary School is a successful and popular community school that already admits 60 children into Reception classes each year.

"If permanent expansion is agreed, the school’s permanent admission number would be 90. The school would reach its full capacity of 630 children by 2025."

The plans would allow the primary school to expand from a two-form school admitting 60 reception pupils a year into a three-form school.

There would also be a single single storey extension to provide a new office and library - all built around a central courtyard.

Two letters objecting to the development were sent to the council, claiming that making the school bigger would make traffic worse along Alma Road and Lansdown Road, and because the proposals would mean pupils continue their education during the construction process.

The plans were approved on Thursday night, Thursday 22, subject to conditions.