CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Hurworth School have said more than half of the 5,000-plus signatures on their petition are from the urban areas of Darlington.

Members of Save Hurworth and Rural Education (Share) group have been gathering the names on Saturdays along the town's High Row. Of those who have signed the petition, 58 per cent are from the urban area of Darlington, and 42 per cent from rural areas, including Hurworth itself, Neasham and Middleton St George.

The petition calls on Darlington Borough Council not to press ahead with plans to merge Hurworth School with Eastbourne School into a new £25m academy.

Petition leader Sheila Draper said: "We are getting fantastic feedback on what we are doing. So why will this council not listen to the public of Darlington?"

She said that the petition made a mockery of the council's assertion that there is little opposition to their plans from outside of Hurworth.

Share recently criticised the council for information on the academy in the Town Crier magazine, which publicised the academy support group - but did not mention any opposition to the plans.

A council spokeswoman said yesterday: "We have not seen this petition but we are aware of considerable support for the academy around the town."

* A mass protest by groups opposed to the closure of Hurworth School is being staged outside Darlington Town Hall on Saturday from 10am to 11am.