RISING numbers of Catholic immigrants mean schools in Swindon town centre are full to capacity.

Catholics from Goa and Poland want to send their children to schools that share their religious beliefs, but these are already fully stretched.

And, with heavy development planned for the town centre, the pressure is set to increase.

As a result, Holy Rood Infants, Holy Rood Junior and St Joseph's schools are all struggling to meet demand, according to the church.

Monsignor Richard Twomey, of Holy Rood Church, said: "The Catholic community in Swindon has increased enormously with 8,000 to 9,000 people from Goa arriving.

"There are huge numbers coming in and the population is growing drastically.

"The schools are full to capacity - we can't take any more children.

"The Catholic Diocese has no plans at the moment to build a new Catholic school as we have just built St Joseph's, which cost £20m."

He said that 400 pupils applied for 216 places at St Joseph's, in Octotal Way in 2006.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said all schools in the town centre are likely to be affected by plans for new apartments in Regents Circus.

"The end result is we may have to bus children out of the town centre to schools on the outskirts," he said.

"We have a big influx of workers from Goa and the EU who live in the town centre.

"There are no places left for next year, particularly when you consider the Regents Circus redevelopment.

"I'd like to see a new school built in the town centre.

"The council is envisaging new builds, but we need schools."

Holy Rood Catholic Infant School headteacher Denise Slaght said she did not wish to make a comment, but confirmed that pupils from other countries meant the school was full.

Swindon Council does not hold records of the nationality of immigrants entering the town since 2001.

But Swindon Council's cabinet member for children's services, Coun Garry Perkins, said: "Immigrants from Goa and the Philippines want their children to be educated in Catholic schools.

"It has put pressure on our Catholic schools."

Holy Rood Catholic Junior School headteacher Catherine Inskip said: "Over the last two years Swindon has seen a huge increase in the number of people coming from other countries, many of whom have a strong Christian faith.

"The school is now full and the staff and pupils have welcomed those who have to come to join us.

"Other schools are now finding that their classrooms are full and it is obviously something the local authority is having to deal with."

St Joseph's Catholic College headteacher Peter Wells said: "Swindon is a good place to be as there is work and education opportunities and people coming into the town from countries such as Poland and Goa work very hard.

"It is a positive thing for the town and school, but also creates a pressure as well."