Kiara Morris, left, and Freddie Nunn, right, lead the cheers A nursery in a historic Oxford school destined for demolition has been saved at the last minute after months of opposition from parents, councillors and former pupils.

Christ Church yesterday withdrew its application to bulldoze St Thomas School in Osney Lane -- home to Little Scholars Nursery -- and replace it with a four-storey 100-bed apartment block and ground-floor creche.

The city council's central, south and west area committee was due to make a decision about the development on October 11.

Nick Lyzba, of John Philips Planning Consultancy, Christ Church's agent, told the Oxford Mail yesterday that the application had been withdrawn but refused to reveal why.

He said: "I don't think it is a reason that I can share with you. My instructions are the application should be withdrawn and we've notified the city council.

"The intention will be discussions on this (the school) and other sites which Christ Church owns with the city council in light of the council's West End study."

The last minute reprieve sees an end to nearly two years of campaigning to save the building and nursery.

Parents, councillors and former pupils opposed the development for several reasons, including the loss of the nursery, the building's history and an increase in traffic congestion.

Nursery manager Sara Sheppard said the looming application had been very stressful and added: "This has been hanging over our heads for the last two years. It is amazing that they have withdrawn the application."

Liz Woolley, of Marlborough Road, whose son Alex, four, went to the nursery, spent 18 months producing a dossier about the school as part of the fight to save it.

She said it was fantastic to hear about the college's change of heart but she was still worried about any future applications.

She added: "We need to learn from our past mistakes. It would be madness to get rid of buildings like this that have got character and remind us of what the area was like."

Prof Alison Etheridge, of Walton Crescent, Jericho, whose son Matthew, one, is a current member, said she was pleased to hear about the withdrawal, but expected a fresh application.

Dr Katherine Kaye, chairman of the Parents' Support Group, and mother of Timmy McConnachie-Kaye, four, said: "I am delighted that other children will have the opportunity to benefit from the same love, care, and high level of professionalism given to my son.

"I am sure Christ Church has the intellectual and moral capacity to find a way to meet its obligations as a trustee while preserving this invaluable social, education- al and historical resource."

Former pupil Stella Van-Gucci, 83, of Hawthorn Close, Elms Rise, who was shocked to hear about the college's plans, said: "I've been telling all my friends that they were trying to take away our school. I am really pleased they have changed their mind. That has made my day."

The nursery is owned and run by Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and caters for 58 children aged from three months to five years.