CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the only Catholic sixth form in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale from extinction have passed a motion of no confidence in their own bishop.

Almost 300 parents, teachers, governors and students voted unanimously for the motion against Bishop Terence Brain at a heated meeting held to discuss plans to oppose the closure of the St Theodore's Sixth Form.

The post-16 facility has been earmarked for closure as part of a programme to revamp schools in Burnley and Pendle - known as "Building Schools for the Future".

Under the proposals, described as "educational vandalism" by former headteacher Gerald Martland, St Theodore's will share a site in the Barden area with Habergham High School's sixth form.

There will be a separate multi-faith centre for the use of students of different denominations.

But headteacher John Tat, John Entwistle, chairman of governors, and Francis Swarbrick, head of sixth form, have voiced their objections to the plan.

They all spoke at a special meeting called to discuss plans to fight the proposals held at St Theodore's in Ormerod Road, Burnley, last night.

Mr Tat said there was a danger that post-16 provision for Catholics in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale was being undermined by the Building Schools for the Future programme. He urged people to write to the Bishop, Burnley MP Peter Pike and Lancashire County Council cabinet member for education Alan Whittaker to make plain their objections.

Mr Swarbrick said the proposed multi-faith sixth-form would simply be a state sixth-form with a small amount of religious education "tacked on at the end".

He said: "God may have given us Bishop Brain, but we have our own brains. All we are asking for is the right to continue to provide a Catholic sixth form for our most precious gift, our children."