A TRADE Union representative has pledged his support to students with special needs who are worried about their future at Warrington Collegiate Institute.

Brian Derbyshire, regional officer for the GMB Trade Union, has met with parents and students from the collegiate to discuss their concerns over old and new courses.

The Guardian has previously highlighted fears that places for students with learning disabilities will be cut - but these have been refuted by principal Paul Hafren.

He has maintained that parents and students have been kept fully informed and that courses are being renamed and not axed.

Paul Cunningham, who is a student at the college and lives in Dallam, said: "I was doing a course at the college last term called Horizons foundation.

"I have been told this course will not exist for this term but the problem is, I haven't been told why.

"I have special needs but I shouldn't be treated any differently to mainstream students and we don't want to be pushed out."

Mr Derbyshire said: "It is a terrible state of affairs that courses that succeed in helping young people into mainstream employment should face the axe.

"I understand that the students have lodged a case under the Disability Discrimination Act that deals with educational discrimination.

"I think that this demonstrates how they value this course.

"Mr Hafren should be proud that the course is so highly regarded and should be supporting these students."

Mr Derbyshire added that Mr Hafren has still not met with students and parents face to face to listen to their views.