Protesters fighting to save a Bradford school for the visually impaired are to take their campaign to Downing Street.

They will hand over a petition objecting to the closure of Temple Bank School in Daisy Hill Lane, Bradford, later this month.

Bradford Council is proposing to shut the school and educate its pupils instead in mainstream schools.

But the move has sparked a massive protest campaign.

Campaigners have staged a demonstration in Bradford city centre and have met local education officials in a bid to stop the proposed closure.

Their petition has already attracted hundreds of signatures.

Among the pupils at the school is 12-year-old Nicholas Killen, of Victoria Road, Saltaire, who captured the hearts of the nation when he lost his sight to cancer six years ago.

Leading campaigner Carol Hodson said protesters had arranged to present their petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair's office at 2pm on July 21.

"We have been told that six of us will be allowed into Downing Street so there will probably be three adults and three pupils handing over the petition," she said.

Parents have accused the local education authority of failing to provide proper consultation over the closure plans.

The education authority has insisted that a final decision has not yet been made. The authority is considering whether to close the school, modify it or keep it as it is.

Parents have also demanded to know whether any specialist provision for totally blind youngsters would be available if Temple Bank was closed and if mainstream schools had been consulted.

Protesters hope to organise a coach for supporters on the day.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.