CAMPAIGNERS battling to keep Lowick School open took their fight to Westmorland County Show - and the next step will be Westminster.

Chairman of governors Rose Bugler said 234 people at rainy Lowick Show on Saturday had signed their petition to keep the rural primary school open, and many more people were adding their names at the county show.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins has agreed to present the petition to Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael and Secretary of State for Education and Skills Estelle Morris.

The 18-pupil school is threatened with closure as Cumbria County Council tackles the problem of empty classroom places.

"We've decided that, because local government isn't listening to us, we need to go national," said Mrs Bugler.

"We are collecting signatures here and getting a tremendous amount of support from people from throughout Cumbria."

Lowick and District Agricultural Society will also be sending a letter with the petition.

Secretary Charlotte Thexton fears Lowick Valley traditions and heritage would be lost if the school closed.

" When the school is gone, the community falls apart and the farming community falls apart - no more children are being taught the rural life."

Mrs Bugler added that parents were supporting the school by signing up their babies as future pupils.

She said the school also had a key role to play in regeneration and training projects.