RESIDENTS are expected to pack a public meeting to discuss the possible amalgamation of two secondary schools on Teesside.

Feelings are running high over Stockton Borough Council's proposals to knock down both St Patrick's Roman Catholic Secondary School and the neighbouring Thornaby Community School - with the possibility of combining them.

The council hopes to receive £150m from the Government's Building Schools for the Future fund to improve educational buildings in the borough.

It has drawn up a number of possibilities, including the demolition of both school buildings in Thornaby.

The authority is consulting with the community and asking people to voice which of two options they prefer.

The first is to close both schools and replace them with one school for 1,400 students.

Whether the school will be Roman Catholic or a state school has not been decided.

The second option is to keep both schools, but to house them together in one new building for 1,400 students, where they can share amenities, such as sports equipment, computer labs and dining facilities.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "People are very concerned. We feel as though the Catholic community is being squeezed out and we are worried for the future."

Councillor Alex Cunningham, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We want to achieve the best possible opportunities for future learning for every student in the borough.

"We'll continue to work closely with the Roman Catholic diocese to ensure we get the correct mix of school types to suit all our children."

Peter Brennan, secretary of the Village Park Residents group, said he would be attending the meeting to find out more.

"It's a complicated issue and I'm going to the meeting to find out the true scale of the problem.

I'm concerned about the future of the schools."

Father Derek Turnham, communications officer for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, said: "The diocese has to listen very carefully to all suggestions for the development of schools in the area. At this stage, the diocese does not have a view."

The meeting will be held at St Patrick's School, Baysdale Road, Thornaby, at 6.30pm, on Friday.