Controversial plans to shut two Catholic secondary schools in Lanarkshire have been scrapped amid denials of bowing to church and political pressure.

North Lanarkshire Council will formally announce its proposals to move pupils from Our Lady's High and Taylor High in Motherwell to a new £36 million school on the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig are now off the table.

The local authority previously claimed the proposal was necessary because of deteriorating buildings at both schools.

Parents and some local ¬politicians have opposed the plan, arguing the existing schools are in a reasonable condition and are vital to their communities.

Joseph Toal, Bishop of Motherwell, has also attacked the commitment of the Labour-run council to education in its Catholic schools.

Bishop Toal claimed school rolls showed there was an "inequitable treatment of pupils attending Catholic schools".

Motherwell and Wishaw MP Frank Roy, MSP John Pentland and Uddingston and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon have all called for the closure plans to be withdrawn.

In a statement, council leader Jim McCabe said: "Despite unnecessary interference and condemnation without consultation from parliamentarians and members of the clergy, this is a properly considered decision taken by the Labour Group."

But sources have told The Herald the decision could see hundreds of empty desks at both Our Lady's and Taylor High for years to come, claiming the plans have been put into storage because of pressure from senior Labour figures in the area.

The source also accused the Catholic Church of double standards by opposing school amalgamations when it was on the cusp of announcing a raft of parish closures and mergers in the Motherwell Diocese.

The source said: "So many other areas across Lanarkshire have gone through the pain of closures and mergers. It was hell in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.

"Now, with elections on the horizon the plans have been scrapped. People will make up their own minds why this has happened now."

Mr McCabe said: "The Labour administration has listened to the people and their overwhelming response to this merger proposal. Having considered the consultation reports and the advice from officers, we are not satisfied that there are any educational benefits to be gained through this proposal and we therefore won't be continuing with it."

He added that secondary school provision in the Motherwell area would be subjected to "a comprehensive study".

A council source said the national schools quango Education Scotland was "less effusive" about merging Our Lady's and Taylor as they were about previous amalgamations within the authority.

During their campaign, parent have accused the council of trying to use the development, which also involves special school Bothwellpark High, as a way of generating interest in the Ravenscraig redevelopment among housing developers and major retailers. They have stated they do not want their children to go to a school built on a former industrial site where toxic waste was stored.

However, following detailed assessments, the council insisted the Ravenscraig site is ready to use and there are no post-industrial health and safety risks.