PUPILS and parents are celebrating an astonishing victory after saving Broad Oak and Prestwich high schools.

Euphoria rocked the town hall as council plans to close both establishments were thrown out by the School Organisation Committee.

Campaigners for Prestwich were jubilant as the plan for their school was rejected outright on Tuesday night.

This followed the SOC's decision to merely give Broad Oak a reprieve by sending the matter to an independent adjudicator but in the wake of the Prestwich vote, the council has thrown in the towel and said it will go back to the drawing board.

Ms Sue Arnall, chairman of governors at Broad Oak, said: "I am absolutely overjoyed that they have seen sense. This is good news for the people of East Bury: it would have been a tragedy to lose the school."

And Mr Geoff Barlow, headteacher at Prestwich Arts College, said: "Don't under-estimate the power of a community when it comes together around a sensitive issue like this."

Full story and more reaction in the Bury Times, on sale now