HOPES of saving a Bournemouth school are fading fast after councillors narrowly voted in favour of closing it at the end of the current academic year.

A stormy meeting of the investing in people overview panel last night heard a series of emotional pleas for Townsend School to be given a stay of execution until results of the latest Ofsted inspection have been published.

Governor the Rev Andy McPherson said the main reason given for closure was that the school was not providing an adequate education for the children.

"The full Ofsted is to be published in early April. We fully expect the school to come out of special measures, so the main argument is gone," he said.

Governor Peter Storms told councillors: "Towns- end School is not failing any more. These vulnerable people, these little children, deserve better from you."

Parent Luke Wilson took two of his children into the meeting, spelling out to members the effect that closure of the school would have on them and his family's life.

Ward councillor Michael Weinhonig said families in the area had been enduring an "emotional nightmare" over the proposals.

Cllr Anne Rey accused the ruling Conservative group of a "stitch-up" and Cllr Ted Taylor warned: "If you take Townsend School out of the community. I believe we will be destroying the community."

But vice-chairman Cllr Nicola Greene said: "The school is still not providing the sort of education we want for children anywhere in the borough. We need to look at the big picture."

Townsend was placed in special measures by Ofsted in November 2005.

At the moment, only 96 of 210 places are filled, but governors have put forward a plan based on making the school smaller.