PARENTS furious at the relocation of one of the region's leading schools last night staged their biggest public protest yet against the proposal.

More than 200 villagers marched through Hurworth, near Darlington, to demonstrate against the impending loss of their nationally-acclaimed secondary school.

Darlington Borough Council has announced plans for Hurworth School to take over Eastbourne Comprehensive.

They would be brought together in a multi-million pound school at the top end of Yarm Road, in Darlington.

But parents and children in Hurworth - sporting T-shirts with the slogan "Save our School" and waving placards proclaiming "Have a Heart - Don't Move Our School" - showed their disapproval last night, marching from the village's primary school to a meeting at the secondary school.

School officials had said the Press were not allowed into the meeting.

Starting at the primary school, which governors fear could be a potential future target for closure, the protestors were led by a police escort along Roundhill Road and on to the main street through the village.

Chanting "SOS - save our school", the protestors eventually arrived at the secondary school for a volatile parents' meeting.

Denise Wilson, one of the march organisers, said at the school gates: "We've had excellent support and it just shows the passion in the village about this.

"We'll keep on fighting to keep the school where it should be - in the heart of the village."

Parent Jill Russell, who led the chants with a megaphone, said: "There is a lot of interest in this nationally and if we have to have parents in a campsite on the school fields, that's what we'll do."

During the subsequent meeting at the secondary school, parents and children asked questions directed at a panel comprising acting headteacher at Eastbourne, Eamonn Farrar, Hurworth's headteacher Dean Judson, Darlington council's director of children's services Margaret Asquith, chairman of governors Robin Mair and governor Sam Jameson.

In response to a question about whether a new school could be built on the site at Hurworth, Mrs Asquith said the acreage could support a 900-pupil school but not a building for 1,200 pupils as proposed for the new site.

A new school would definitely be built at that site on Yarm Road, she said.

Former chairman of governors Les Baker reminded the meeting of Tony Blair's comment after securing his third General Election victory when the Prime Minister said: "We have got to listen to the people and respond wisely and sensibly."

"Now, it is time for Mr Blair to start listening to his own constituents because parents have clearly demonstrated tonight that they do not want a large school located outside the village," said Mr Baker.

The focus of campaigners will turn to tonight's public meeting at the Grange Community Centre, at 7.30pm.

The event has been organised by Hurworth Parish Council, which saw its monthly meeting last week swamped by angry parents wanting to start a campaign against the plans.

Hurworth School's board of governors met last Friday to consider the scheme.

However, the board did not reach a final decision on whether to back the relocation.

Instead, the governors asked for the borough council to investigate the possibility of retaining the school in Hurworth and expanding its capacity.

However, the council said it had already ruled out such an idea, insisting that a 1,200-pupil Hurworth School on the edge of Darlington was its preferred option.

Meanwhile, the council said last night that an investigation that led to the suspension of Eastbourne headteacher Karen Pemberton was still on-going.