PARENTS at Malvern Hills Primary have launched a campaign to save the school.

They are planning a letter to the Prime Minister and a meeting with West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer.

Concerned about low pupil numbers, poor performance in Government inspections and staffing problems, Worcestershire County Council has decided to hold a public consultation about the school's future.

A public meeting at the school on Tuesday, July 12, at 7pm, will discuss four options - closure, pairing it with a successful neighbouring school, devising an action plan with the governing body or closing the school and reopening with new governors and staff.

Dawn Bradshaw has two children at the school and 22-month-old twin daughters she hopes will be able to go there. She said: "It's a beautiful school. It's got huge potential and as long as we get permanent staff and a new headteacher, I think it should work.

"It's awful for us parents. Obviously, we won't have a decision until the end of the summer. We won't know where to send our children."

Parents are already collecting signatures for a petition.

On Saturday, July 9 they plan to put their case to MP Sir Michael Spicer at his Malvern surgery and they will also write to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Sir Michael said: "What really counts is the interests of the children and that the children are given the best possible education to begin their lives with."

He has asked to be kept closely informed of the results of discussions at the public meeting so he can decide how best to help.

At a meeting on Wednesday, it was decided to cancel the school fete to concentrate on the campaign to save the school.

Meanwhile, parents will be protesting before the public meeting on July 12.