A north Belfast priest has said he fears for children as they prepare for a new school term at a flashpoint interface.

A three-month protest last year by loyalist residents at an Ardoyne interface saw pupils of Holy Cross Girls' School being escorted to the school by the security forces on a daily basis.

Board of governors chairman Father Aidan Troy confirmed the number of new enrolments at the school had fallen by a third.

Despite an end to the protest last November, which came after 12 weeks, Father Troy said tension in the area was still high.

If the wall is built, the school closes - it is as simple as that

Father Aidan Troy

"I think now that the guns have come out on to the streets, the temperature has been raised quite significantly," he said.

"I know there was a young man injured in a shooting in Glenbryn earlier in the year but there is a feeling now that there has been a concerted effort to intimidate or to make life very, very difficult for the people in Alliance Avenue."

He added the future of the school depended on plans by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to build another 'peace wall' along part of the Ardoyne Road.

'Chance of survival'

Residents in the largely Protestant Glenbryn area have demanded the measure to prevent attacks on their homes.

However, Ardoyne residents are opposed to the wall as it would realign the route walked by children and parents to the school.

"I feel as chair of the board of governors, it is my duty to at least give the school the chance of survival," he said.

"If the wall is built, the school closes. It is as simple as that."

Father Troy said the Holy Cross pupils had been failed by politicians both in the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government.

Father Aidan Troy: "Worrying clouds ahead"

"Politically we have no solution, so it would be nice if we, as church leaders, could create a lead on this and work together.

"I am optimistic that we have the possibility of having a good year but there are worrying clouds there."

Last year's dispute centred on alleged attacks on Glenbryn homes by the larger nationalist community in Ardoyne.

It was eventually resolved in November with a package, backed by the first and deputy first ministers, of enhanced security and social measures for the area.

However, a delay in implementing the proposals, in particular the realignment of the Ardoyne road to keep the communities apart, has led to tension in recent months.

Loyalist residents said they were considering their position, but said resuming the protest at the school was not an option.