SO many people opposed a bid to transform a former royal residence into a school for pupils with learning difficulties that at a meeting they had to be divided into two groups.

About 120 residents attended an emergency meeting called by Goldsborough Parish Council.

As the chosen venue was the primary school which does not have a hall, the residents were forced to squeeze into two classrooms.

Both meetings agreed unanimously to support the parish council's opposition to the scheme.

Chairman Jamie Search said an action group would be formed to campaign against the redevelopment of Goldsborough Hall, which was used until recently as a Bupa nursing home.

If the bid to convert the building is successful, the school for young people with special educational needs will be operated by Senad, of Derbyshire, which was formed in 2002 to operate similar schemes around the UK.

Yesterday, chief executive Terry Lee said no decision had been made to purchase the hall, saying the company usually approached residents before planning applications were submitted.

Mr Lee said he regretted the company had not "taken the first step" in this case.

"I can accept where the residents are coming from," he said.

Goldsborough Hall assumed royal status in the 1920s when Princess Mary, only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, married Viscount Henry Lascelles, heir to the 5th Earl of Harewood, and the hall became their home.

Their son, George, the present Earl of Harewood, who lives at Harewood House, which is between Leeds and Harrogate, was born at Goldsborough and christened in the local parish church with the King and Queen among the guests.