A HEADTEACHER at the centre of a bitter row over the future of two secondary schools stepped down last night by mutual agreement with governors.

Eamonn Farrar, headteacher of Eastbourne Comprehensive, in Darlington, said his position was untenable because of his involvement in a plan to close Eastbourne so a popular village school could expand in nearby Hurworth.

He told The Northern Echo: "There has been no scandal; it is a conflict of interest and it was a mutual decision. I would have happily kept on doing it, but it was untenable.

"I have not got a bad word to say about the school or the kids. I would have been shocked if they had let me stay."

Veronica Copeland, chairwoman of governors at Eastbourne, said: "It's been very mutually agreed -I want to stress that.

"We are very grateful for the help and assistance Mr Farrar has given the school.

"But he has made a decision to go along with the Hurworth proposal and that makes it a very difficult position."

The proposal -passed by Hurworth governors on Monday evening -would lead to the nationally acclaimed Hurworth School expanding by a third to 900 pupils, becoming a foundation school free from council control.

Eastbourne's deputy headteacher Keith Ruston will take the helm from today -the school's fifth headteacher in three years. Mr Farrar will return as headteacher to Hurworth School, where he led the school to national success.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: "Our primary concern is for the welfare of pupils at Eastbourne, and we will be meeting with Mr Farrar to discuss the situation as soon as possible."

The authority, which wants to merge Eastbourne and Hurworth in a £25m academy, had planned for Mr Farrar to lead a town-wide school improvement service to raise flagging exam results.

Ian Holme, of the Save Hurworth and Rural Education campaign group, said: "It is obvious that Mr Farrar is fully committed to Hurworth's long-term future. That is very much appreciated by all those wanting to keep Hurworth open."