PARENTS at Beardwood High School have slammed the council's decision to close "the best school in the borough".

The Preston New Road school is earmarked for closure under Blackburn with Darwen Council's £150m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme, because education bosses say that it is least suitable for development.

But a group of parents have formed a group to fight the closure. They claim the council has a "hidden agenda" and the decision "goes against all common sense".

Under the Government-funded plans, Witton Park and Pleckgate High Schools will be completely rebuilt, and a third will be built to replace Blakewater College. The East Blackburn Community School will cater for around 900 students, up from Blakewater's 600 pupil role.

The proposals, which have yet to be approved by the Government, would see all three new schools open by 2012, and Beardwood would also close by then, and its 1,000-plus students move to the rest of the borough's schools. Assurances have also been made by the authority that staff will be re-deployed. But many parents are angry and determined to put up a fight.

Spokesperson David Smith, whose four children are all past and present Beardwood pupils, said: "The council is damaging the future of children by closing Beardwo-od, because teachers will likely leave the area rather than be moved to another school.

"The council wants to keep Blakewater College and Darwen Vale open, which have had difficulties and have empty spaces, but shut Beardwood, which is a great school with brilliant results.

"In my view they're spending a lot of money for some marginal benefits.

"I raised many points with Peter Morgan at the council, and his answer was always trust me', but I don't trust him, because the decision to close Beardwood goes against all common sense - there has to be a better answer."

Campaigners are contacting all councillors to ask them to consider their objections, and are inviting them to a meeting at the school next month.