A CAMPAIGN group fighting to save a village school from closure accused Tony Blair of double standards after a speech which promised more parent power in education.

Darlington Borough Council wants to merge Hurworth School with Eastbourne Comprehensive in a city academy on the edge of the town, but there has been strong opposition from Hurworth parents.

Hurworth is in the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency and action group Share (Save Hurworth and Rural Education) had asked for his support.

But earlier this month they received a letter from Mr Blair, which backed the academy plan.

Share spokesman Ian Holme said: "How is it possible for him to reconcile this speech with his stance on Hurworth School?

"Parent power is exactly what is not happening in his own constituency. It is double standards."

Elsewhere, headteachers and governors expressed concerns over the plans to give schools more autonomy.

Keith Cotgrave, of Longfield Comprehensive School, Darlington, said: "Heads have a lot of autonomy already. I am a total advocate of properly funded schools working in partnership with their local authority."

Darlington Governors' Association said in a statement: "Our mission statement is to ensure that each and every child and young person receives a first-class education which enables them to achieve their full potential. We do not feel the proposals will make this easier to achieve."

Keith Taylor, of Escomb Primary School, County Durham, said: "What we want from education is a fair and ethical balance, but if it is more complicated and means more bureaucracy we would want to avoid it."