A FIGHT to save a school goes on - despite a council's vote to close it.

Education Secretary David Blunkett will be asked to step in if - as expected - a decision to shut St Anthony's Roman Catholic secondary School, Middlesbrough, is ratified in the spring.

Middlesbrough Borough Council's education cabinet voted for closure of the surplus places-hit school, yesterday. Technically, the final say rests with the school organisation committee, which meets in the spring.

But Councillor Geoff Connolly, Middlesbrough's Commissioner for Education, is its chairman and also chairs the education cabinet, which voted yesterday for closure.

The St Anthony's site has been earmarked for the building of the UK's first city academy. Two adjacent comprehensives are being absorbed into the new school.

Parents' spokesman Ian McGuckin said: "We will fight to the bitter end, whatever that may be.''

Colleague Albert Burton, a pensioner, said: "All we want is justice for the outstanding dedication of the children and all the employees there.

"We want justice for the mothers and fathers of the kids who attend the school; equality with the other religious denominations. And we want progress to continue as it has in the last two years as regards scholastic achievements."

Maureen McLean, St Anthony's acting headteacher, told the cabinet: "The fact is St Anthony's never has been and never will be, as far as we are concerned, a failing school.''

She said GCSE results were "in line with the national trends'' while a school deficit would be considerably reduced this financial year.

Education director Barbara Comiskey said: "It is very much to the school's credit you have bottomed out of some of the financial issues.''

Ward Councillor Irene Berryman said: "Why can't we work together to see if we can keep that building there and that education in east Middlesbrough? The parents are not asking for a lot. I don't know why we can't look at it again."

The Diocesan Trust said: "It is the intention of the diocese to support the governors of St Anthony's School in whatever decision they make."

Mr McGuckin said: "The trustees of the diocese cannot see further than the balance sheet.''