PRIME minister Gordon Brown congratulated local people on a long and successful campaign against the closure of a top-performing school.

Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik took a group of Castle Hall School and Mirfield Free Grammar School representatives to 10 Downing Street.

The MP had been asked to nominate people in his constituency who had campaigned against the odds.

Last month the Government overturned Kirklees Council’s decision to shut Castle Hall School in Mirfield and merge it with Mirfield Free Grammar.

The news came after a tireless 16-month campaign by staff, parents and pupils of the two schools.

Mirfield Free Grammar head teacher Lorraine Barker and chair of governors Jennifer Ryan joined Castle Hall head teacher Andy Pugh and school governor Bronwyn Bentall.

Mr Malik said: “When I was asked to invite community campaigners I knew from my intense work in Mirfield over 16 months that Castle Hall and Mirfield Free Grammar would be my undisputed first choice.

“Although there was only five of us congratulated by the Prime Minister, we were there on behalf of the thousands that have given us unwavering support and helped ensure we got an outcome that many said was impossible.”