A CAMPAIGN has been launched to transform a former school into a community centre and save it from demolition.

Dozens of volunteers from groups and organisations across Guisborough are determined to fight council plans to sell off the former Northgate School, in Wilton Lane.

Earlier this year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council announced it planned to empty the building, known as the Guisborough Education Development Centre, by August 31, with the intention of demolishing it and selling the land for development.

But the news outraged a number of groups, who think the building is a vital asset to the community.

Members of the Guisborough Market Town Partnership met council representatives and managed to buy more time to allow a viable business plan to be drawn up.

Community groups have joined together with the aim of turning the building into a working community centre.

They have until next Friday to submit a formal bid to the council to be able take the plans forward.

Supporter David McArthur, a local businessman and nurse, said: "The community centre will employ a full-time manager and a voluntary support team and will generate its own income to ensure that it is economically sound.

"We hope and pray that ideas of demolition are now evaporating and the concrete ideas for community use are being recognised."

The leader of the council, Councillor George Dunning, said it had extended the period for groups to come forward with ideas.

He said: "We will do anything in our power to assist anyone to keep that building open.

"The Labour administration of the council has a political will to keep it open."

Carol Hudson, from Guisborough Market Town Partnership, said: "We think it is a really important building. This is the last big sort of building in the town that has potential. It is actually in very good condition.

"It would be an awful shame to demolish something which has got years of life ahead of it.

"We have to put a business plan together about how we might run it. The question is what the competition is, really, and whether the council thinks our arguments are worth something."

* To support the campaign, contact Mary Burns, c/o The North Guisborough Community Forum, 90 Woodhouse Road, Guisborough, or email save northgate@hotmail.co.uk