PARENTS have called a public meeting in their battle to save a primary school.

People who have children at Eldon Lane Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, have vowed to fight plans for their school to merge with Dene Valley Primary School.

The move would see both schools close and re-housed in a new building by 2005, as part of a shake-up in education by Durham County Council.

Parents will meet at the One Stop Shop, in Eldon, at 6pm tonight, to voice their concerns.

Julie Barlow, who has children at the school, said local councillors and school governors had been invited to attend.

She said: "A lot of the parents are angry because we do not know what is going on. We do not want Eldon Lane Primary to close."

The two schools are among nine in County Durham identified as a priority in a programme to tackle a 17 per cent primary pupil shortfall.

Earlier this year, the county council revealed that up to 23 schools could close in the next ten to 15 years.

Dene Valley and Eldon Lane were listed for closure, but parents said that would leave villages in the Dene Valley without a school.

Headteachers at the schools have declined to comment.

A county council spokesman said the proposals were in the early consultation stage and that parents would be consulted.