CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to create a £25m privately-sponsored city in Darlington were told last night that they had a strong argument.

Borough council chiefs are pursuing Government funding that could allow the controversial development to bring Hurworth School and Eastbourne Comprehensive together.

The 1,200-pupil academy would be built in Yarm Road, Darlington, near the Cummins Engines factory, possibly as early as 2008.

But the Save Hurworth and Rural Education (Share) pressure group has vowed to oppose the scheme, in an effort to retain the school in its village location.

A packed public meeting was told last night that Hurworth parents' concerns were justified.

Dr Richard Hatcher, research director at the education faculty of the University of Central England, in Birmingham, addressed the audience at the Hurworth Grange Community Centre.

He told parents: "The claim that academies mean improvement doesn't hold water."

He said that, of the 11 academies opened by last year, six had improved their schools' GCSE results and five had not.

The Unity City Academy, in Middlesbrough, failed its Ofsted inspection, plunging it into the education watchdog's special measures category.

Dr Hatcher said academies were designed to "solve one school's problems by transferring them to a neighbouring school" and were not popular among headteachers.

He added: "The case against academies is a strong one.

"It is clear that opposition is gathering all round the country."

Kenny Bell, Newcastle secretary of workers' union Unison, also pledged his support for the Share campaign.

However, town hall officials have hailed the Government's invitation to pursue the academy option as an exciting opportunity, which could secure the future of secondary education in Darlington for years to come.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, in whose Sedgefield constituency Hurworth lies, is firmly behind the academy programme, while Darlington MP Alan Milburn said it could offer more youngsters an excellent education.

Last night's meeting followed an anti-council demonstration held in the centre of Darlington on Saturday morning.

Council leader John Williams dismissed the event as a stunt and said that the vast majority of residents were supportive of the authority's investments to secure a £25m investment in local education.

But Share campaign manager Jill Russell said last night: "If that's the best he can do, bring it on."