CAMPAIGNERS fighting to lift the threat of closure from one of Durham's smallest schools have been given top-level backing.

The Upper Weardale Task Force, which is working to reverse job losses in the area, is protesting to Durham County Council over the inclusion of Wearhead Primary School on a list of schools facing closure.

Task force chairman John Hamilton made a personal plea to the county council's education director, Keith Mitchell, before today's consultation deadline.

The authority's chief executive, Kingsley Smith, helped to found the task force after the announcement that Lafarge Cement's Blue Circle plant, at Eastgate, was to close early last year.

Mr Hamilton said: "We were all totally in agreement that the closure of Wearhead Primary School would be detrimental to the economic regeneration of the dale.

"If we are trying to keep the area economically active, the worst thing we can do is close a village school. We want to encourage development and maintain the quality of life for the people in Weardale."

Supporters of the school have also warned the council that closing it could send some of its 34 pupils over the border into Cumbria, adding to County Durham's transport costs.

They also say the school has an outstanding academic and sporting record and question the county's calculation on surplus places.

Parents delivered questionnaires to homes between St John's Chapel and Killhope and received 100 per cent backing for the school in replies received.

Governor's chairwoman Phillippa Rowe said yesterday: "It makes no sense to close the school. We think the task force is quite right. If economic revival is to mean anything, we have to assume that people will move here and stay here.

"Closing the school would contradict all the regeneration efforts being made by the task force and other people. It would mean the death of the upper dale."

Wearhead was named by the county council under proposals which could see up to 23 schools close and dozens more merging in the next ten to 15 years.

Schools had until today to send in initial responses.Further consultation on the proposals will follow.