CAMPAIGNERS out to save Burnley's 'jewel in the crown' are to demand a public inquiry into plans to build on Towneley Park.

Lancashire County Council is hoping to site one of the new schools in the Building Schools for the Future programme on the park.

But protesters are angry and are calling on people to turn up and look at the county council plans at a public meeting tonight.

Fulledge Action Community Team (FACT) and Towneley for the People have teamed up and are preparing a series of meetings to fight the plans.

Margaret Nelson of FACT, said: "People in Burnley think a lot of Towneley Park and that feeling is even stronger in the immediate area because it is a stomping ground for many people living nearby. We feel the park is under attack and we will be writing to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to demand a public inquiry.

"We would like to see the Government call these plans in because this is parkland which is being built on.

"We have managed to get a petition against the proposals and once the details of the plans are known we will be arranging meetings to decide how best to fight this."

The county council is expected to submit an outline planning application for Unity College this month.

County Coun Alan Whittaker, the county's cabinet member for education, said any planning problems would not delay the £250million project to build seven new schools and a sixth form in Burnley and Pendle.

The meeting will be held at Towneley High School from 5 to 7pm tonight.