PARENTS and teachers have launched a campaign to save a special school from closure.

Around 100 people attended a public meeting at Audley Community Centre, Chester Street, Blackburn, last night to show their support.

They started a petition to keep open the borough's only school of moderate learning difficulty.

Crosshill Special School, Shadsworth Road, is earmar-ked for closure as part of a £150 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project in Blackburn with Darwen.

The council wants to shut Crosshill in favour of "broader options" for pupils with learning difficulties in revamped mainstream scho-ols.

But parents and teachers at the meeting claimed that children with learning difficulties and their families would lose vital support which could have reper-cussions for the rest of their lives.

By the end of the meeting, 90 people had signed the petition.

When more signatures have been collected, supporters of the special school said they would march to the town hall to hand in the petition.

Senior teacher Peter Rush, who led the meeting, said: "Without the safety net of Crosshill, many pupils across the borough will face a life of misery in an unsuitable placement.

"This is not a criticism of the other schools or centres, far from it.

"Let us get the petition started. Hopefully with all the support we will stop traffic as we march to the town hall.

"If we are stubborn and stick together, we can effect change."

Coun Roy Davies, Liberal Democrat councillor in Darwen's Sudell ward, said: "My son attended Crosshill and I followed his progress and the work of the teachers. I give my support to keep Crosshill open."

A parent told the meeting: "Before my son attended Crosshill they were in a mainstream school, and in his last year there he spent time cleaning cupboards because they could not meet his educational needs.

"Now at Crosshill he is getting an education."

Another parent said: "I was bullied because I had special needs in school and I don't want the same for my children as I had.

"For the first since attending Crosshill he is proud of who he is and I am proud of him. We can't let them take that away."

No-one from the council attended the meeting, despite being invited.

But in a statement issued before the meeting, Peter Morgan, director of children's services, said that pupils with moderate learning difficulties were now supported to learn in mainstream schools.

Those with "complex difficulties" would be taught at the borough's Newfield Special School, he added.

Mr Morgan said: "At this stage, the suggested school closures are still proposals.

"We will be fully consulting with staff, governors and members of the public over the coming months before any final decisions are made."