BUSINESS bosses say they face an uncertain future if plans to shut a high school go ahead.

Traders operating out of six commercial business units on the site of Mitchell Business and Enterprise College fear for the future if the school shuts under Stoke-on-Trent City Council merger plans.

The units, in a refurbished caretaker's house at the Bucknall school, were created two-and-a-half years ago to help newly-started businesses.

They were also designed to provide a wealth of work experience opportunities for pupils without them having to leave the school site.

But the city council is proposing shutting the college, along with Longton's Edensor Technology College, to replace it with a new academy in Adderley Green or Park Hall.

People working from the units fear it will affect trade.

Vanessa Rushton, who runs HoneyZ hair salon, has been at the unit since it opened.

The 41-year-old from Sneyd Green said traders had no idea where they stood.

She added: "The only information we receive comes from the school, we've heard nothing from the council.

"This unit is great for me, because a lot of my business is done through word of mouth.

"The rent is reasonable, because we don't have passing trade as such, and that suits me but I don't know what I would do if I had to move from here.

"If the school closes and the council sells the site, I can't see the businesses being kept because a developer would have to build around us."

Andrea Chadwick runs Handmade In Heaven, an online business which sells handcrafted accessories for babies and mothers.

The 39-year-old from Hanley, who has a 13-year-old son at the school, said: "Everything is up in the air at the minute.

"We all want to stay here, because it's ideal for all of us."

The school secured £150,000 from North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone to bring the business centre to life.

It also houses a beauty salon, although the remaining three units are empty.

Mitchell provides subsidised gas and water charges in return for businesses giving work placements for pupils.

Councillor Ian Mitchell, cabinet member for children and young people's services, said there were currently no definite plans to incorporate the units into the new academy.

He added: "However, this is something we will discuss with the sponsors to seek an agreeable outcome for all parties."

Campaigners are still fighting the proposed school closure. They want to keep Mitchell open and replace Edensor with an academy in the grounds of Longton High, in Meir.