Campaigners have accused Bristol City Council of putting the commercial interests of first-class cricket ahead of the needs of children.

Parents are furious that the authority performed "a remarkable U-turn" in January when it dropped plans for a much-needed primary school close to City of Bristol College in Ashley Down.

The council's Labour-run cabinet decided instead to meet the demand for places by expanding Sefton Park infant and junior schools.

The council's cabinet made the decision in January after being advised by officers that "the enlargement of the Sefton Park schools will provide a better educational outcome than two schools on separate sites".

The executive also considered a letter from Gloucestershire cricket club chief executive Tom Richardson, which said: "The building of a school and its grounds means the loss of an area critical to the club in providing facilities for spectators, broadcasters and up to 1,000 crucial parking places on major match days."

The club's aim to secure more Twenty20, international and Test cricket could be adversely affected, he added.

A club spokeswoman said the club was proceeding with its plans to develop the Nevil Road ground and hoped to make announcements shortly.

But many parents are unhappy at the £6.9 million development proposals for Sefton Park and are calling for a return to the original scheme.

Opposition has grown to the scheme since independent consultant Involving Residents in Solutions (Iris) presented three possible options to those affected, who include a scout group, a pre-school, and an after-school club, as well as the school and its neighbours.

Dozens of parents have written to councillors expressing their concerns and raising questions about the cricket club's involvement in the authority's change of heart.

Mother-of-three Sarah Ubhi said she was utterly dismayed at the prospect of her children attending a school with more than 650 pupils, in a three-storey building with a rooftop playground, and having to walk along a busy road to get to the school sports field on the college site.

"It seems the financial gains to be had from international cricket are being placed above the educational and social requirements of children, their families and the community," she said.

Olly Swayne, who has two children at Sefton Park Infant School, criticised the council's "very hurried and well veiled" moves to press ahead with the expansion.

He said that building a 210-place primary had been an integral part of the scheme for homes on the college site, many of which have now been built, leading to a further increase in demand for school places.

Cas Brooks, who also has two children at Sefton Park, said: "The decision was reversed with very little publicity and seems to be in order to meet the needs of the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club."

Bristol city Liberal Democrat councillor Bev Knott said the continuing wrangle was not helping families in Ashley, Bishopston, and Redland wards who needed primary places for their children now.

"A human-scale school was agreed two years ago and could be opening next year if the plans hadn't been reversed," he said.