A PROTEST group battling to retain Hurworth School in its present village location has chalked up a landmark number of supporters.

Save Hurworth and Rural Education (Share) is fighting Darlington Borough Council's proposals to merge the school with Eastbourne Comprehensive in a £25m city academy.

The controversial development would take shape at the top end of Yarm Road, in Darlington, and be sponsored by the Church of England.

But Hurworth governors are strongly opposed and want to see their school expanded to 900 pupils, as well as secure foundation status that would give it greater freedom from the local authority.

And they are being backed by Share, which announced this week that it had gained its 5,000th signature on a petition against the scheme.

Spokesman Ian Holme said the milestone demonstrated widespread support from across the town, with the most recent 250 signatures collected in the Eastbourne area.

He also hit out at the council, saying that it had gone to great lengths to attempt to stifle local debate.

But the council insisted that it was encouraging debate, with more than 50 public meetings arranged to give out information on the proposals.

A council spokeswoman said: "We are also holding specific information sessions for staff and are holding ongoing discussions with trade unions.

"All this is well in advance of the formal consultation when all comments will be welcomed."

The academy also won further support for the proposal from a top businessman.

Steve Robinson, regional director of Durham-based Capita Symonds - one of the country's largest property and infrastructure consultancies - praised the idea and said it could potentially provide his firm with recruits.

He said: "Successful people-based businesses like Capita need a workforce which has the relevant qualifications and social skills gained from attending a good school.

"Darlington's academy, as part of the transformation of secondary education, would give all the borough's children the education they deserve and so increase their chances of getting the job they want."