Ed Balls MP, the Secretary of State for Schools, was besieged by letters and emails from concerned parents in Mirfield when he appeared on BBC Radio Leeds, on Friday.

Presenter Liz Green said it was "the most response I have ever had before a programme".

She read a letter from Alison Kent, which said: "Please intervene in this outrageous plan before generations to come suffer from this ill-thought-out plan."

Mr Balls said while Kirklees councillors were elected to make these decisions, he was willing to look at what was happening.

He said: "It's their job to make these decisions and I don't dictate to them how to do it but what they want to be doing is talking to the community, talking to parents and children and as far as they possibly can, reaching a consensus about the way forward.

'Things aren't going well'

"Now obviously if you have had a huge response today that suggests to me things aren't going well."

Mr Balls said he would personally respond to all the people who had contacted the show and would speak to local MPs.

"Sometimes tough decisions have to be made but you shouldn't be closing good schools," he said.

Mr Balls said he would also speak to Kirklees Council, as the level of response suggested something was going wrong.

He said: "I do have reserved powers to intervene if I think they're making big mistakes."

The pledge was welcomed by campaigners in Mirfield.

Coun Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) said: "I understand that Ed Balls has indicated he will step in if the council can't come to a sensible solution.

"They have reached that position and clearly the sooner he intervenes the better... without it the Lab/Lib-Dem pact will destroy education throughout North Kirklees forever."

Mirfield MP Shahid Malik was due to meet Mr Balls in London yesterday to discuss the matter.

He said: "Castle Hall is the best performing comprehensive in North Kirklees and enjoys incredible support from parents and local residents. It's a real focal point for community activity.

"Although I recognise that these decisions must be made by the council I would hope that Ed could use his good offices to get them to take another look at the case for Castle Hall, which I believe is compelling."

But Ken Smith (Lab), Kirklees Council's joint cabinet member for schools, said the government was already aware of its Building Schools for the Future plans.

He said: "We meet with central government monthly so they are completely au fait with our plans – all the broad details of our plans and certainly the strategy."