CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep a nationally-acclaimed school in its rural setting yesterday staged their most high-profile demonstration yet.

A convoy of more than 100 cars converged on the edge-of-town site which Darlington Borough Council bosses have earmarked for a new Hurworth School.

Officials want to close the existing village school, as well as the town's struggling Eastbourne Comprehensive, and bring the two together in Yarm Road, Darlington.

The proposal has won support from both schools' governing bodies, but has sparked outrage in Hurworth, where protestors have set up an action group to fight the plans.

One of its key objections is the potential increase in traffic on an already-congested Yarm Road - and protestors illustrated their point to town hall chiefs just before 9am yesterday.

Vehicles sporting "Save our School" banners travelled to the site, near the Cummins Engines factory, blasting their horns and causing gridlock back to the A66 bypass.

The protestors remained there for about half an hour, with one even wearing a Tony Blair character mask and declaring through a megaphone: "Vote for me and I'll close your school."

Articulated lorries trying to get out onto the Yarm Road retail park roundabout were blocked in - a problem which campaigners insisted proved their argument.

Save Hurworth and Rural Education action group spokesman Ian Holme said: "This just goes to show that it is a ridiculous place for a school.

"It's just before 9am and look at the congestion.

"It'll be like this every morning if there's a school here.

"Eastbourne residents have also handed a petition to the council - nobody wants this."

Vehicles were then driven to the town hall, where another noisy protest was staged. Police later praised the campaigners' behaviour and co-operation.

A council spokesman said last night: "The new school is most unlikely to cause traffic congestion.

"Before the school is built, it is probable that a full transport assessment will be carried out and there will be a school travel plan.

"Two-thirds of the pupils now attending Hurworth already live in the Eastbourne area, so it will be much easier for these pupils to walk or cycle to the new school.

"Most of the remaining pupils, from the rural areas, will travel to school not by car but by bus as they do now, except there will be fewer buses travelling to the new school than there are travelling to Hurworth at present."

Hurworth School has won praise in recent years for its record exam results, becoming part of the country's first education federation with Eastbourne School and working with Cambridge University on a scheme to raise achievement among boys.