LEAD campaigner Ian Finlay says the decision to axe Gorsthills Primary will 'rip the heart out of the community'.

Last week we revealed how parents had been left devastated after the county's schools organisation committee voted unanimously in favour of closing the Great Sutton school next summer.

Mr Finlay, pictured, who is also vice-chair of governors there, says he will continue to fight the plan until there is no longer hope but admits he fears for the future of the community if they cannot overturn the decision.

He has also accused the county council of not caring for the staff and pupils at the school and was annoyed that nobody had spoken to the teachers before they had to deliver the bad news to children last week.

Mr Finlay said: 'They are ripping the heart out of this community and they just don't care. They proved that by expecting the staff to turn up to school and carry on as normal.

'Nobody from the county council came in to speak to them. Where was the support? continue to do so.

'On the Monday following the decision, letters to parents and staff were delivered to the school for distribution.

'Last Wednesday a county council TLC officer attended a meeting at the school to enable governors to raise questions and discuss issues. .'

Meanwhile, Labour county councillor Pat Merrick has described the decision to axe Gorsthills as 'flawed and unjust'.

She was among the large number of people who turned out in support of Gorsthills at the committee meeting.

Cllr Merrick, who is Labour's lead member for children's services, said: 'I believe the case for the closure of the school was both flawed and unjust and I feel that any statistical information appears to have been consistently interpreted in only one way - to favour closure.

'I think it is a sad day for the county council when their so- called consultation with the people of Ellesmere Port was run on such a basis.

'I still find it hard to see how the committee could fail to see the overwhelming support the school has received from the community at large or fail to be persuaded by the arguments that the three spokespeople for the school put forward.

'My heart went out to the pupils, parents and staff of the school..'

The county council says it will work with parents to find places for their children at other schools.

Surely they should have a liaison officer to come into the school at such a difficult time.'

A county council spokesman said: 'We have provided continual support to the school throughout the TLC review and will