Parents are launching a last-minute bid to save East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart), which is threatened with closure.

Together with community leaders, councillors, teachers and governors and students they have come up with a report looking at ways to save the school, in Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk, Brighton.

They are due to launch their proposal for a small community school at a meeting at Whitehawk Primary School tomorrow at 6.30pm.

Comart is threatened with closure because of falling pupil numbers, poor exam results and high truancy rates.

But campaigners say shutting the school would disrupt the education of present students, cost more money in bus fares and new uniforms for future pupils and prevent parents from being able to play an active role in their children's school lives.

There were also concerns it would have a wider negative effect on moves to regenerate East Brighton.

A report by the campaign group said: "One should not simply abandon a school.

"Instead the aim should be to enhance well-being within that community and to bring it and the school up to standards elsewhere."

The 15-page document hits out at Brighton and Hove City Council's belief that a small community school would not be a viable option.

Kevin Dale, of the Local Education Action Group, said: "We asking for the closure process to be stopped and for a conference of partners, including Ofsted, to take place.

"This is hopefully taking it to the wider community in Brighton and Hove and getting support.

"It should be a community school with adult education and rent from commercial space."

Liz Wylie, assistant director for the children, families and schools department at the council, said: "We have always made it clear through the consultation that if genuine new options emerged they would be considered.

"There is always the possibility of extending the consultation."