PARENTS in Darlington have been sent letters asking them to choose a school for their children - while the fate of two secondary schools remains uncertain.

Yesterday, the action group fighting to keep Hurworth School in the village criticised Darlington Borough Council for distributing the letters.

Ian Holme, of Share (Save Hurworth and Rural Education), said: "We have to tell them our preferred choice of school without knowing if there will still be a school in Hurworth."

Parents have just a few weeks to declare their preferred option, together with second and third choices.

The council has proposed to merge Hurworth with Eastbourne Comprehensive in a new school in Yarm Road, Darlington.

Mr Holme said: "Many parents will not allow their child to be the guinea pigs at an experimental new school, in an industrial and commercial area."