THE battle to save south Wiltshire's five middle schools hotted up this week, as campaigners called on local people to throw their weight behind the drive to retain the area's three-tier education system.

The Middle Schools Campaign has taken out a half-page advertisement in today's Journal urging ex-pupils, parents and other members of the community to make their voices heard by signing postcards strongly opposing the closure of the five schools.

Cards are obtainable from campaign leaders and the aim is for people to fill them in and send them off to education secretary Estelle Morris and county councillor for the Wilton and Wylye division Ian West.

Cllr West will be spearheading efforts to save the middles when a plan to scrap them comes up for a final decision by county councillors on Tuesday.

The schools under threat are Duchy Manor in Mere, Fisherton Manor and Avon Middle in Salisbury, Wilton Middle and Nadder Middle in Tisbury.

The uncertainty has already led to the resignations of the headteachers at Duchy Manor, Nadder and Fisherton Manor.