PARENTS have launched a campaign opposing plans to demolish part of a Darlington school.

Last month, Darlington Borough Council revealed proposals to pull down the infants' area of Corporation Road Primary School.

The council plans to replace it with a £350,000 multi-use games area because of falling pupil numbers.

But angry parents have criticised the plans and want locals to support them in an effort to change council chiefs' minds.

A group of local residents has started collecting signatures on a petition calling for the building to be retained and turned into a community centre.

They believe the games area could be created without the demolition of part of the school, and have delivered more than 1,000 leaflets to homes in the area asking for support. Campaign organiser and school governor Kate Davies said: "The building could be preserved and made into a community hall.

"This community needs a community centre. Many community-based projects already use the part of the school which is proposed for demolition.

"It's a fantastic Victorian building and to just pull down the right hand side of it doesn't make any sense."

Protestors are due to meet council officials tomorrow to discuss the issue.

But the council is adamant that a reduction in the size of the school is essential.

A spokesman said: "The proposals are really for the benefit of the pupils.

"The capacity of the school at the moment is 630, but there are only 270 pupils there.

"In three years' time, it will be 210, so clearly it is far too big. The wider community will also be able to use the school in the evening.

"In three years, more classroom space will have been freed up, so the possibility of using that in the daytime could also be looked at."

The demolition plans were announced on January 10, together with proposals to shut Rise Carr Primary School, in Eldon Street.

Parents of children at Rise Carr are also campaigning against the decision and have already staged a demonstration at the town hall.