TRAINEES will continue to be prepared for the priesthood at Ushaw College for at least two years.

Governors of the seminary, near Durham, say they will 'take all steps necessary' to ensure business remains as usual until September 2004 at the earliest.

The governing body met following recent speculation over the Georgian-built college under a review announced by the Roman Catholic Church hastened by the shortage of prospective priests.

Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales expressed concern that around half the places for the training of priests remain unfilled at the country's four seminaries.

The conference is to consider various options, including the possibility of merging the four to create two training colleges, one serving the South and the other for the North and Midlands.

Fears have been expressed that Ushaw College, set in picturesque grounds four miles west of Durham, may close under an amalgamation with St Mary's College at Oscott, near Birmingham.

Conference members stressed any moves would only proceed with the blessing of the respective archbishops overseeing the dioceses in each region.

Ushaw College governors announced on Tuesday: "We will take all the steps necessary to ensure the formation of priests at Ushaw until at least September 2004."

The statement added: "The governors are not saying the seminary will be moved from Ushaw at that time, but they do recognise the continuing discussion about future provision for formation among the bishops of England and Wales. They also recognise that it is important to keep all options open for formation in the years after 2004."

The college will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its foundation in 2004. Governors were keen to stress the bishops' discussions will have no impact on the college conference facilities, recently re-named The Margaret Clitheroe Conference Centre.

College president Father Jim O'Keefe said numbers of would-be priests have dwindled from a maximum of 200 to the current group of 38 students.