PARENTS of children at a top-performing school, which is under threat of closure, are being asked to support governors in a bid to secure the future of the school.

A letter, sent to parents at Hurworth School last night, says the school will try to get foundation status by Easter next year, and then pursue plans to expand to a 900-pupil school.

The move comes as Darlington Borough Council tries to close Hurworth and nearby Eastbourne, and merge them into a £25m academy on the edge of Darlington.

Governors have rejected this plan, and will instead ask the council to support the expansion bid.

They intend to get funding from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for the extra places, and ask the council for a top-up.

Hurworth School currently turns away 50 pupils a year - almost all children who live in the Eastbourne area. The expansion could be complete by September 2007.

Governors say the school has carried out extensive research to look at the effects of its expansion on the rest of the Darlington borough, and has invited the local authority to share its findings.

Under the expansion plan, an additional four double-decker buses will be required to transport children to school.

Formal consultation on Hurworth School's plans will begin in the new year.

In the letter to parents, chairman of governors Sam Jameson says: "These are testing times for the school, but we are determined to fight as hard and as long as it takes to achieve the terms of our proposals and secure the future of our school.

"It is absolutely essential that all of our parents actively support us to this end, and we will be calling a parents' meeting early in the New Year so that you can begin to demonstrate your support publicly."

Darlington council remains opposed to the Hurworth plan, and is pushing ahead with the academy proposal.