Durham County Council leader Ken Manton is to lead a delegation to Westminster on Monday to explain its controversial education shake-up.

The meeting will give the education authority a chance to brief the county's MPs and representatives in the House of Lords of its 'blueprint for excellence' which it hopes will create world-class schools over the next ten to 15 years.

The controversial part of the plan, announced earlier this month, was the naming of 23 schools for potential closure and up to 96 others for amalgamation. The move, aimed at reducing the county's 12,000 surplus places, has caused distress among staff, governors, pupils and parents.

Already parents and pupils at Burnhope Primary, between Lanchester and Stanley, have staged a protest at the school gates, vowing to teach their children at home rather than bus them to other villages.

Coun Manton and officials face a tough task in winning over hearts and minds at the threatened schools, including two at secondary level, Sunnydale at Shildon and Fyndoune at Sacriston.

"We are seeking initial comments from parents, schools and whole communities on the suggestions we have made, and clearly our MPs and Lords' representatives need to be made aware of the proposals so they can be fully engaged in the process as these plans develop," said Coun Manton.