CAMPAIGNING parents have thrown a lifeline to their children's special school, which is facing the axe in August.

The Alexander Patterson School, Kidderminster,will close on Tuesday, August 31 because pupil numbers for next academic year will not attract enough funding to sustain the school, according to Worcestershire County Council.

However, parents have refused to take the controversial decision lying down and have hit back on two fronts.

They have sent six letters of complaint to the council, which means the School Organisation Committee (SOC) will now examine the plan to close the school.

The organisation - made up of councillors, church representatives and school governors - will meet on Monday, June 14 to decide if the council's reasons are justified. If they decide not, the Park Gate Road school will remain open.

"It only takes one letter to refer it to the SOC and we can't really comment until we know its decision," said a spokesman for the council.

"We will give the SOC the cabinet report from which the decision was taken and they will make up their mind whether we did it by the book."

And one anxious mum, Cindy Yardley, who claims the upheaval will be unfair on the children, is planning to challenge the Kidderminster school's closure through the courts.

Solicitor Bryony Walker, who is representing Mrs Yardley, said they would not be going to the High Courts in London unless there was a chance of success.

"All the special schools in Worcestershire are facing massive changes in the next couple of years," said Ms Walker.

"Many of the children have autistic spectrum difficulties, as well as other complex learning difficulties.

"These children need regularity, routine and stability - not constant upheaval. The effect of these moves on the children and their families will be quite simply devastating."

The plans to shut the school are part of the review of the provision of special educational needs in Worcestershire, which will be debated by councillors in July.

The news comes as a four-strong delegation from Thornton House's Parents Action Group are due to meet Shadow Education Minister Tim Yeo in the House of Commons today.