Campaigners for a new secondary school in north Kingston have refused to give up their 10-year fight - despite the council announcing it could start work on one in 2009.

Petitioners remain suspicious of Kingston Council's motives in attempting to join the £144m Building Schools for the Future programme five years ahead of schedule, fearing they have one eye on raising popularity ahead of the next election.

North Kingston school campaigner Angela Norton-Bilsby said: "I'm still wary - while I'm pleased that after 10 years the council has recognised the need for a new secondary in the north of the borough.

"We're still going to keep fighting because I think 2014 is too long - they say they are going to make a start in 2009 but knowing how the council works' it could be long after that before we see anything happen.

"I've no doubt there's some political motivation behind it, but the bottom line is that this campaign has been growing for 10 years and has now reached critical mass."

Mrs Norton-Bilsby also criticised the figures the council used in projecting primary school places, pointing out two-thirds of places at the Tiffin schools were taken up by children from outside of the borough.

She said: "There's a need for a new secondary now since there are about 80 places at the Tiffin schools that Kingston pupils can't have - the figures just don't add up.

"We're going to keep petitioning, this is not going away and I don't think people should have to go through the misery."