Hundreds of pupils and parents from all over Yorkshire turned out in force to send a rallying call of 'Save our special school' to Bradford Council.

Protesters bearing banners and placards marched two miles into the city on Saturday as part of the campaign to save Temple Bank, Daisy Hill.

Parents chanted 'Save our school' while pupils as young as three carried banners pleading Keep Temple Bank open.

Protesters marched for an hour-and-a-half via Toller Lane to Forster Square, handing out petitions and leaflets to bystanders.

A minibus for tired campaigners brought up the rear of the procession, handing out juice and water to participants.

Philip Green, 15, a pupil at the school, said: "I come from Barnsley every day but it's well worth the effort. I've been at the school for three years and it's really improved my abilities. It would be very hard for me to go into a mainstream school now."

Lilly Atter, 51, of Little Horton, said the school had been a lifeline for her adopted four-year-old son, Adam, who has been attending the school for two years.

She said: "If they put Adam in a mainstream school he'll go down, but if he stays here, he'll probably go onto university."

Temple Bank is the only school for the visually impaired in Yorkshire. It faces closure due to falling rolls and a move towards educating children with special needs in main stream schools.

Parents are now planning to send a petition in person to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and are asking that Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett - who is also blind - pays a visit to the school in the hope that he will have more empathy with their cause.

Head teacher Rick Neal said: "We're not arguing about mainstream places but we're trying to make the point that some children need a special school.

"Why can't Bradford be proud of what it's already got? We need to be treated differently because we're a special case. We're unique and we feel that there are youngsters who really need us."

Parents and governors are now set to meet tonight to discuss further plans of action.

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