THE campaign to retain Hurworth School in its village location has taken a step forward with the formation of an action group.

Campaigners want to keep the nationally-acclaimed school in their community.

Darlington Borough Council has proposed a merger of Hurworth School and Eastbourne Comprehensive School at a new Hurworth School, to be built near Alderman Tommy Crooks Park, in Yarm Road, Darlington.

The borough council is guaranteed to receive £20m of Government funding for the project by 2011, but is lobbying hard for that money to be released as soon as possible.

Objectors in Hurworth pledged that their nine-member action committee would wage a high-profile campaign against the move.

Last night, about 50 protestors gathered outside the St George Hotel at Durham Tees Valley Airport, where the annual Children's Services awards were being held.

The group waved banners saying "Save Our School" as the major figures from the local education authority gathered inside.

Spokesman Ian Holme said: "We have to maintain a high profile and keep the campaign momentum up.

We will be anywhere where Hurworth is mentioned and where the major political figures are gathering."

The committee has representatives from Hurworth, as well as other communities in the schools catchment area, including Darlington, Middleton St George and Sadberge.

Mr Holme said: "We don't want this to become an argument between Hurworth and Eastbourne, that's not what we're about. There will be two elements to this. We will have a mass movement of parents and children and some high-profile work to make sure this stays in the public arena.

"We also have some very good people on board, doing a detailed analysis of the proposals to help our case."

Campaign secretary Norma Kyle insisted that the group wanted to work with the council, but said it seemed to "dictate on the basis of reducing the cost of education".

The action group was formed following a public meeting at Hurworth Grange Community Centre last week.

It has called for meetings with key figures, including cabinet member for children's services Chris McEwan and the department's director, Margaret Asquith.

Members also want talks with Prime Minister and local MP, Tony Blair, Hurworth headteacher Dean Judson, acting Eastbourne headteacher Eamonn Farrar and council cabinet member for transport, Nick Wallis.

A council spokesman said: "There is a formal consultation process that is on-going and all parties involved in the proposals for Hurworth and Eastbourne schools will be consulted as part of that."