Plans to build homes and offices on the site of an infants school have been described as "disgraceful" by a town mayor.

Oxfordshire County Council has applied for permission to demolish part of Wantage's Church of England Infants School, build houses on the site and convert the school's historic core into offices.

Wantage Mayor Jenny Hannaby condemned the plans, insisting the site should be continue to be used for education.

The school is set to close following the construction of a new £2.5m primary school in Newbury Street. The purpose-built campus is being built on the site of the former Wantage Junior School. It will also house the Wantage Nursery School, which is currently based at the infant school.

The new school will be funded by the sale of the Infants School site in Church Street and the the former Wantage County Primary School site in Garston Lane.

The county council must try to get the maximum value for the site, and is guaranteed to raise more by selling the site with outline planning permission.

But Mrs Hannaby said the school site could be combined with the neighbouring King Alfred's Community and Sports College.

She said: "It is absolutely disgraceful. I would have liked to have seen the site become part of the vision for King Alfred's school.

"We want to stop Wantage from becoming a housing estate."

Alan Graham, of agents WS Atkins, said: "The purpose of this planning application is to ensure funding is available. Planning permission establishes the value of the site, which will enable the Newbury Street project to go ahead."