A protest march was taking place today by parents campaigning against the possible closure of Temple Bank School, Bradford.

The school - the only one in Yorkshire for visually impaired pupils - has the axe hanging over it as Bradford Council considers integrating the children into mainstream schools and because of falling rolls.

The move has caused outrage among parents and youngsters have even started a letter-writing campaign against the possible closure.

One of the letter writers is Nicholas Killen, whose courage when he lost his sight to cancer six years ago was highlighted by the Telegraph & Argus.

The 12-year-old was devastated to hear the Daisy Hill Lane school was facing closure.

And Nicholas, of Victoria Road, Saltaire, says in his letter: "I think it should remain open, The lessons are good, the teachers are good and the building."

He has already sent copies of his letter to the T&A, national newspapers and is now planning to write to Prime Minister Tony Blair. The T&A has also received other anonymous letters from other pupils at Temple Bank School who are objecting to the threat of closure.

Nicholas's mum, Susan, said: "He wrote the whole thing himself. I just checked the spelling and did the address labels.

"Four or five years ago I actually wanted him to go to a mainstream school but I couldn't get the Council to do it. Now, if he is sent to a really big upper school, he will be lost. It will be really disruptive and he could be bullied by other children.

"If Temple Bank closes, the Council will choose which school he will go to, not the parents, because there will only be certain schools which will have the specialist support.

"Temple Bank is a lovely school but I do think some younger children would benefit from going to a mainstream school from a young age and growing up with other children. It's too late for that to happen with Nicholas, though."

Nicholas and his mother were both planning to take part in the protest march from the school to Forster Square today.

The marchers set off at 1pm despite police advice that parents should organise an alternative demonstration for safety reasons.

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