PARENTS will be staging a last ditch attempt to save Windmill Hill Primary School this week.

On Wednesday Swindon Council's school organisation committee (SOC) will decide if the school will close at the end of next year.

And parents who have been running a campaign against the closure want as many people as possible to join their protest to show committee members how much opposition there is to closing the West Swindon school.

If just one objection against plans to close the school was raised during the consultation process the council has a legal obligation to refer the final decision to the SOC.

In Windmill Hill's case, 43 letters have been sent, pleading with committee members to listen to them.

And parents are hoping they can show committee members how much the school means to them and their children.

Mum-of-two Angie Evans, of Freshbrook, who is married to Alan, a 37-year-old print operator has a 10-year-old son Benjamin at the school.

The 37-year-old said: "We want as many people at the meeting as possible to show them how much support we've got.

"We want to move the SOC out of their cosy committee room and get the meeting moved into the council chambers so we can show how many people are against the closure."

She added: "The best decision for us is for the school to be left as it is.

"But if we do have to move from our site and amalgamate then we want reassurance our management team and governors will move too."

Pam Durston, 35, of Freshbrook, has two children at the school Fraser, seven, and five-year-old Bethany.

She said: "I am trying to be optimistic and are hoping for a positive decision but the council is a strong force and I do feel nervous."

Windmill Hill was built 18 years ago as a temporary building.

Earlier this year the council sent shockwaves through Windmill Hill when it first announced its plans to close the school.

The council says there will be 680 surplus places in West Swindon schools by 2009 unless they act now.

Under the plans Windmill Hill will be shut and a new two-form entry school will be built on the Freshbrook School site opposite, merging the two together.

The council is also planning to rebuild Toothill Primary and reopen it as a single-form entry school.

Swindon Council say the benefit for the children if they are moved to a new building on the Freshsbrook site is that they will have modern buildings with better facilities.

Parents will be meeting outside the Civic Offices, Euclid Street at 5.30pm.

The meeting starts at 6pm.