A CLOSE-KNIT community which might soon lose its village school has received a prestigious award for its battle against the closure proposal, reports Zoe Casson.

Within days of being told by Cumbria County Council that Lowick C of E School was facing potential closure as the council tried to reduce classroom places, parents, teachers and members of the community rallied around to form a new support group.

The aim of the Friends of Lowick School group is to create a stable future for the school by developing community partnerships as well as setting up activities to be held in the school for local people.

Members of the group, including churchgoers and district and county councillors, held numerous meetings to plan how to fight the proposed closure.

The county council has also been bombarded with more than 100 letters from members of the group outlining reasons why the school should remain open.

Lowick and Blawith Parish Council, which has helped with the campaign, put the village forward for the Calor Village of the Year Competition and it received a commendation.

The school is still fighting the decision by the council to close it down at the end of the summer term next year.

The council's proposal is to be formally published on Friday and the community then has two months to register its views to the county's schools organisation committee, which will then make a final decision at the beginning of next year.

School head teacher Shirley Rainbow said: "We are really, really pleased with the award as it recognises the way the community has rallied around and worked together on the campaign.

"I think getting the award will add strength to our campaign as we are determined not to give up."