BROMYARD was united in anger as more than 1,000 people crammed inside Queen Elizabeth Humanities College to oppose plans to send their children to Leominster.

The mayor, town councillors and teachers were joined by parents, pupils and residents in expressing their outrage over the proposed merger with Minster College.

The mood was one of resilience as the town appeared to prepare for the long, hard fight to keep Queen Elizabeth open.

Mayor Jonathan Lester chaired proceedings urging people to show their support.

He said: "This is the most important meeting I think Bromyard will ever hold.

"It is the children who would have to bear the brunt of these changes."

The night was given over to the people of Bromyard and the surrounding district, who queued up to have their voices heard on stage.

Parents gave personal accounts of the damage the proposal would do to their children's education, social life and ability to participate in after school activities.

One mother explained that she had moved from Leominster to Bromyard with her special-needs son because he had not been getting the care he needed. She was now being asked to return.

Many speakers stressed the importance of not being frightened into removing children from the QE and weakening the school's position.

Chair of governers at the QE Bill Evans said: "Prospective parents and parents who are here now, do not panic.

"Keep your children here and everything will be fine."

Video links were set up, displaying the speeches on stage to the dining room and gym, where people were forced to sit because of a lack of room.

A true community effort was evident with students working alongside Pencombe Young Farmers and Bromyard Rugby Club in dealing with the mass influx of people.

The previous night, town councillors had convened an emergency meeting where a vote of no confidence was unanimously passed in Herefordshire councillors Sharon Menghini, George Salmon and Jenny Hyde.

This motion was unanimously supported by all 1,126 people in attendance at the public meeting.