STUDENTS and parents are planning to fight what they claim are "diabolical" plans to shut down a school farm.

Already pupils have sent letters of protest to the head teacher and governors of Astor of Hever Community School at Maidstone who are proposing to close the farm by the end of the year.

The school, at Oakwood Park, hopes to raise £2 million from selling off part of the land and build new facilities including an assembly hall, classrooms and an all-weather sports area.

But students who work and study on the farm are horrified it could be lost.

Hannah Rubie-Todd, 17, chairwoman of the school's Young Farmers' Club, said: "It's diabolical what they're trying to do. They really don't realise what they have got. It's a unique facility."

Students learned the school's decision last week. "It was just a complete shock," said Miss Rubie-Todd, of Nursery Avenue, Allington, said: "We were all in tears. It's our life. We are down here all the time. It came completely out of the blue."

Miss Rubie-Todd said she was representing around 30 students who are members of Astor's Young Farmers' Club.

She is currently in Year 13 and will complete a BTEC National Diploma at the end of this year, after which she hopes to go on to do Equine Studies at Writtle University, Essex.

Miss Rubie-Todd said: "The reason I came to Astor was because of the school farm. I joined as a Young Farmer in Year Eight. It has made me go on to choose to do Equine Studies at university. It's been a big part of my life.

"I've been brought up in Allington. It's quite urban and you wouldn't get the chance to work with cattle, pigs and sheep. It is completely unique."

Parents and students are holding a meeting tonight (October 4) to discuss plans to fight the closure plan. It will be held at the Civil Service Club in Recreation Close, Maidstone, from 8pm.

Cllr David Naghi (Lib Dem, East Ward) became involved with the campaign through speaking to students who attend a youth club he runs.

Cllr Naghi said: "We are having this meeting for parents to come along and show support. The kids feel very strongly about their farm.

"They want to keep the farm. There is a campaign now - they've got a petition up."

Cllr Naghi said the school management disapproved of the campaign. "I feel sorry for the kids," he said. "It's their right. If they are upset about losing something they should be able to campaign."

Head teacher Martin Carroll said: "We understand that the young farmers won't be happy with the decision because we know that the farm means a lot to them.

"We also know that they feel they weren't consulted, but the governors have decided that the policy to inform all parents at the same time couldn't be changed for this issue, and so the young farmers were told at the same time as everyone else."

He said students had put forward an alternative proposal to sell off less land and keep the farm buildings this week, but governors had not accepted it.

However he said students would be asked for their views on how best to use the land.

"That wouldn't save the farm," said Mr Carroll. "But it might be possible if the young farmers or others came up with solid proposals, that something of a replacement would be possible."

He insisted that the timing of the announcement had nothing to do with launching Astor of Hever's specialist sports status.

Anyone who would like more information about tonights' meeting should contact Cllr Naghi on 01622 678410.