A mayor is boycotting a farewell service to mark the closure of a university college.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Paul Freeman, has turned down his invitation for the service, at the city's cathedral on June 10, to mark the closure of the Ripon campus of the University College of Ripon and York St John.

Coun Freeman said: "This is not a time for a celebration. The college is pulling out of Ripon and 140 people will be made redundant and up to 800 students transferred to York."

He said that, as far as he knew, only one Ripon City councillor would be attending the service.

There had been no consultation before the closure was announced last year, he said. Then, it sparked a protest march through the city by students, staff and residents.

There were also protests by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and Ripon City Council, and calls for a rethink.

A protest petition was signed by more than 2,000 and it was predicted the closure would have a serious effect on Ripon's economy.

The former teacher training college has been in Ripon since 1891. Recently, the campus, in College Road, has been sold to Highstone Estates, chaired by Richard Sykes, son of Paul Sykes, the multi-millionaire property developer who lives in the Ripon area.

There are hopes that an educational use can be made of the site.

The college has said that it hopes the new owners will make a contribution to the city's economy.