COUNCILLORS have refused to back down to criticism of plans to close Hurworth School, and said the debate created by it had been good for education in Darlington.

Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington Borough Council, and Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for children's services were criticised at a full council meeting by opponents of the scheme to merge the top-performing school with Eastbourne Comprehensive into a £25m academy.

The plan has now been abandoned, and Hurworth will remain open in its current location. The council will still press ahead with plans to bring an academy to Darlington in place of Eastbourne.

A call was made for Coun Williams to resign, but instead, he insisted that the furore created by the planned closure of Hurworth had brought education to the forefront of debate.

Councillor Martin Swainston, who represents Hurworth, called Coun Williams' stance "breath-taking" and urged his resignation.

"Your education policy is in tatters, and has upset parents, children and teachers," he said.

"We must never go back to the low caused by this proposed closure of two schools."

Coun Williams said: "The academy plan for Hurworth and Eastbourne was a good idea, I stand by that. There was huge support from the education community across Darlington.

"Regrettably, Hurworth did not agree, but I respect their point of view.

But this debate has put education at the forefront of people's minds."

Coun Williams added that over the past year, there had been multi-million pound investment in the borough's schools, and that 20 per cent of Darlington schools were new and purpose-built.

"With this investment in secondary education, we should be proud, we should not need to apologise," he said.

Coun McEwan said: "There has been an important debate about education in Darlington, and we have welcomed participation from all parts of the community.

"For me, the plan was a good one - I fully accept the Hurworth community does not agree with me, but that does not make it an unworthy goal to pursue."

Conservative councillor Barrie Armstrong said he hoped the issue could now be concluded, and normality resumed.

"I am extremely pleased Hurworth will survive, hopefully senior staff will now be free to address fully major problem issues that have already been identified, like truancy and behaviour," he said.