CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save the name of their village school have won only half the battle.

Middleton St George school is to be replaced by a new £3m building which will also replace the school at neighbouring Sadberge.

On Monday, a ballot at the school decided the new primary, which is due to open in September 2005, will be named St George's CE (Aided) Primary School.

The alternative names were St Laurence's and All Saints

A 360-name petition handed in to the school calling for the existing name to remain.

But Andrew Chown, chairman of governors, said: "Parents, pupils, staff and governors have all taken part in the vote, including parents of those pupils from Sadberge, whom we will welcome in the autumn.

"There was an excellent turnout with more than 400 votes cast, with a clear majority in favour of St George's CE(Aided) Primary School."

Headteacher Janine Gleeson, said: "I am hoping the community is going to back us as well. We are going to have this lovely new school and a new name and the community has always been behind us. They are important to us.

"All the stakeholders, parents and children, took part in the election. The children went class by class to the ballot box and it was explained what each name meant.

"They loved it. They felt valued because they had been listened to."

But generations of Neville Johnston's family have attended the present school and the 43-year-old organised a petition at the weekend to keep the status quo.

"This is going to cause a lot of ill feeling, particularly for someone who has nothing whatever to do with the church," he said.

"We handed in a petition with 360 names on it saying we had lost the industry in the village and now the only thing carrying the name of Middleton St George was to be taken away as well.

"I personally think all this was done and dusted before the meeting took place on Monday. Now all we have left are the three signposts at the entrances to the village."

Margaret Clemence, chairman of the village community partnership, said: "It has taken the identity of the school away. I know it is only a word, but it meant a lot to people.

"The uniform will have to change to take the new badges. I think it could cause a rift because the village people feel pushed out. It will affect this and future generations.