Parents protesting against the closure of a special school in Lewes have been backed by their MP.

Liberal Democrat Norman Baker said it would be a tragedy for St Anne's School to close. He has written to object to East Sussex County Council.

Parent-governors made a small protest outside East Sussex County Council's offices at Pelham House in St Andrew's Lane, Lewes, today.

St Anne's School in Rotten Row, Lewes, is set to close by 2007. The council blames a drop in pupil numbers.

Despite the threat, parents of children with physical and learning disabilities still want their children to be given a place.

Parent-governor Julie Champion, of Crown Hill, Seaford - whose six-year-old son is the youngest pupil at St Anne's - said she knew of eight parents who made the school their first choice for secondary education but none of the requests had been approved.

Instead, they had been offered places at other special or mainstream schools which they did not feel were suitable.

She said: "The council have to provide a special education and if there are no places they will have to place them in an independent special school, which will cost more.

"That makes a mockery of the council's claim that there is no need for a special school in Lewes any more."

St Anne's, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, has a staff of 16 and teaches 75 pupils aged six to 16.

The council plans to close the primary school facilities by August and shut the whole school by 2007.

Mr Baker said he was considering mounting a legal challenge against a decision by councillors to deny the eight Year 11 pupils a place at the school.

He said: "I have visited the school to show solidarity with those against the closure and boost morale at the school.

"It performs a very useful function in my constituency and is much appreciated by those parents who send their children there. It would be a tragedy if it were to close.

"The council also appears to be refusing places to parents when the process of closing the school has been concluded.

"They are jumping the gun by refusing these children and that is improper."

Anthony Bailey and wife Patricia, of Church Road, Newick, send their nine-year-old son, Francis, to St Anne's.

Mr Bailey said: "It is entirely wrong to close the school as the standard of care and attention the children get there is superb.

"Our son is gradually being reintroduced back into mainstream schooling and goes to the local primary school three days a week and will hopefully be full-time soon.

"That would not have been possible without St Anne's teaching and support."

Report by Sam Thomson, news@theargus.co.uk