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 on Thursday night was one of resilience as the town app-eared to prepare for the long, hard fight to keep Queen Elizabeth open.

Mayor Jonathan Lester chaired proceedings and urged 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."

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 said she had moved from Leominster to Bromyard with her special-needs son because she felt 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.

Chairman of governers 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 speeches on stage to the dining room and gym, where people had to sit because of a lack of room.

Students worked alongside Pen-combe Young Farmers and Brom-yard Rugby Club members 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 named Herefordshire councillors and officers.

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