Angry parents today launched a battle to save their children's school from closure.

About a dozen protesters and children gathered outside East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) to kick off their Campaign to Keep Secondary Education in Whitehawk.

The waved bright placards calling for proper education for their children while motorists passing the school in Wilson Avenue beeped their horns in support.

Organiser Kevin Dale, who has an 11-year-old daughter at the school, said: "We have been meeting since we read about it in The Argus - that's where we all heard it.

"People want the school to stay but not as it is at the moment because it isn't working.

"We never wanted a media arts college. We are very concerned about our children's education and we have not been told what will happen to them."

Mr Dale, 36, who has two other children at Whitehawk Primary, said the group was planning a series of demonstrations during the summer and hoped the campaign would gain momentum and more supporters.

Mr Dale criticised the consultation process and was particularly scathing about a public meeting held last week in which protesters were divided into groups and had to come up with just three questions each.

He said: "The consultation process is a shambles. Last Wednesday's meeting made it crystal clear that the local education authority (LEA) has no desire for real debate.

"The use of workshops and facilitators to decide what questions could be asked was the most blatant attempt at censorship.

"This mess was created by the LEA and now the same people seem hell-bent on stifling the voice of the community."

Other parents voiced their anger at the way they had been treated.

They said there were fears that if children were sent to different parts of Brighton to attend other schools they probably would not go at all.

Lorraine Snow's daughter has just left the school.

Mrs Snow said: "It's disgraceful.

"I think whatever is decided there should be some form of education there.

"In total I have had four children pass through Comart and all of them achieved well."

Ms Snow, who works in the estate's youth club, said many of the children she had spoken to would not go to other schools.

She also criticised the high staff turnover at the school and the changes in headteachers.

She said: "Young people need to form relationships and get to know staff.

"But every other day there are different ones coming into the school. It's such a shame."

Brighton and Hove City Council is consulting parents and residents on the future of the school which is suffering from falling pupil numbers.

Several options are being considered.

One of these is to close the school.

Parents have until the end of this month to send their comments to the council.