TWO Pendle families are fighting the closure of a special needs college which they claim has changed their children's lives.

Carole and Ray Anderson, of Whitworth Way, Barnoldswick, and Christine and Marvin Edwards, of Russell Avenue, Colne, are furious their sons' educations will be cut short and say the college is the only one which can cater for them.

But the Learning and Skills Council, which is in charge of the college, has insisted it can find alternative provisions for the pair.

Parents were summoned to a meeting at Belford College in Oldham last week and told that the Learning and Skills Council had withdrawn funding because the college had not made enough progress following its latest Ofsted report. Belford is due to shut its doors on December 31.

Mrs Anderson, whose son Graeme, 20, attends Belford, said: "I'm absolutely devastated. I don't know what Graeme's going to do. Belford was the only college that would keep him. We've tried places from Nottingham to Northumberland, he's had residential care, he's been for assessment at colleges and there's just been nothing suitable.

"He has complex leaning difficulties and I do not know how he will continue without the support of Belford College. Graeme has achieved so much since starting at Belford in 2003. He's not employable. He will end up in some kind of Government establishment."

Mrs Edwards said: "Clifford was a recluse before he went to Belford. He spent all his time in his room, he wouldn't speak to people.

"Belford is more personal, they treat the students like real people. They give them work experience, he's worked in a shoe shop, made radiators and his last placement was a music store in Manchester."

Clifford, 21, hopes to become a DJ.

He said: "It's made a big difference. The staff are great."

Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate inspected Belford in February 2004 and the overall provision was judged to be inadequate. A number of monitoring visits have since been carried out and the LSC said it was concerned about the progress being made to address the weaknesses.

Spokeswoman Cherry Bond said: "The LSC has a duty to ensure that all learners have access to high quality, relevant learning provision. Our key concern now is to ensure that the young people to whom the LSC has a commitment beyond December 2005 are found suitable alternative provision.

"The LSC has a dedicated team of specialists who will work with Connexions, other partners and parents to explore appropriate options for the young people."