SUPPORTERS fighting for the retention of Dean Hall School near Speech House say they have been overwhelmed by the number of people who support their cause.

Parent governor Wendy Wilding is urging everyone who objects to proposals to close Dean Hall and integrate children into mainstream schools to write to Dr Stephen Huggett at Shire Hall, Gloucester, by March 9.

"If you feel strongly that Dean Hall should remain open and carry on the excellent job it is doing at present write to Dr Huggett and tell him so," said Mrs Wilding.

She stresses that letters are not only welcomed by parents of special needs children.

"If you are the parent of a mainstream child and there are children with learning difficulties or behavioural difficulties in their class taking more than their fair share of the teacher's time, please tell the authority how you feel before it is too late," she said.

Mrs Wilding said there had been a "wonderful and positive message" to the authority from people attending a round of consultation meetings being held in the Forest.

She said the message had been loud and clear that there was considerable strength of feeling in favour of Dean Hall remaining.