LABOUR politicians attacking the media for doing its job has been the theme of the week, be it in Downing Street or Darlington's council's cabinet.

Last week we highlighted the way Darlington Borough Council's intention to close the village school at Sadberge was announced. The media was informed before the school governors, parents and villagers. Many felt they were being presented with a fait accompli when they read about it in The Northern Echo on Tuesday. Last Friday we reported that unhappiness, along with the council's plans for the new, replacement, school at Middleton St George.

This week, the council's cabinet duly rubber-stamped the decision and Coun John Williams, the council leader, took a sideswipe at the media for having the temerity to report the fact that Sadberge was unhappy about the loss of its school as opposed to concentrating on what he has described as an "exciting education opportunity for Darlington".

We don't doubt the education authority's plans for the larger school at Middleton St George are exciting: we recorded those plans last Friday in as much detail as was available.

But Coun Williams cannot expect local newspapers to gloss over the views of villagers who resent the loss of their school and the way the announcement of the plan was handled.

Arguably, school closure has a greater effect on village life than any other closure, including that of the post office/shop.

Coun Williams and his colleagues may not rate the preservation of village life very highly on their list of priorities, regarding them as little more than revenue-generating dormitories. But village life still matters to those who live in the borough's villages and villagers will fight to preserve what services they have left.