PARENTS at Blackburn's Beardwood School are celebrating a victory for people power after persuading a governor to remain in his post.

The group made a heartfelt plea to parent governor Mohammad Anayat and presented him with a petition of more than 200 signatures after hearing he was considering retirement.

And the emotional appeal saved the day. Mr Anayat told a meeting of the Board of Governors at the school last night he would stay for a fifth year.

Mr Anayat of Lancaster Place, Blackburn, said: "Although the headteacher and other governors have spent weeks trying to persuade me to continue, it has been the overwhelming response from the parents through hundreds of contacts, messages of support and requests to continue that has made me review my intention.

"Parent power has made my decision for me and I will stay. I would like to place on record my heartfelt thanks for the appreciation and recognition shown to me. I'm truly flattered."

Mr Anayat, who joined the Board of Governors four years ago when his son Omar started at Beardwood School, is a postmaster in Darwen and has found his role as parent governor increasingly time consuming.

He went on: "The role has become more and more demanding and you have to be more and more active to be effective.

"More of my personal time has been eaten up because although in previous times parent governors could just attend a couple of meetings a year that is no longer the case.

"I want to fulfil my obligation and I want to do it properly."

Parents behind the petition said Mr Anayat had become vital to the school, building links between the staff, pupils and community and getting involved in many fund-raising events.

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