ANGRY parents and children gathered outside Darlington Town Hall last night to protest about plans to approve school closures.

About 20 parents held banners ahead of the borough council's cabinet meeting to agree proposals to close Rise Carr Primary School, in Eldon Street, Darlington.

The meeting, which also accepted a plan to merge Albert Hill Nursery School, in Prescott Street, with Gurney Pease Primary School, was attended by Tony Kemp headteacher of Rise Carr.

Mr Kemp said afterwards: "Not one councillor spoke out in support of the school. In other words the whole community has been totally ignored."

The council said the closure and merger plans, which must be approved by an independent committee, were the solution to the problem of surplus places.

Council leader John Williams said: "It's never easy to make these decisions but tough choices have to be made."

After the meeting, Rise Carr parents expressed their anger at cabinet approval for the closure, which would take place this summer.

Joanne Allen, of Eldon Street, who has a seven-year-old son at the school, said: "To see it closed down would be a complete tragedy. It will rip the heart from the community."

Almost 50 parents attended a meeting at the school yesterday. They were urged by Peter Willson, chairman of governors, to write to the council to protest at the plans.

He said: "We are starting a programme of battling to save this school on your behalf and we will ask you to come with us."