An appeal to save the Royal School for Deaf Children from closure has been launched.

Almost 20 teachers, care workers, students and their parents attended a protest outside of the school in Margate today to show the public how much the school means to them.

One student who has been at the school since he was seven years old is Wilfred Jenkins.

The 19-year-old, who suffers with autism and is also deaf, said: "I am sad about this school and college closing down.

"It has been like a home to me since I arrived in 2003.

"I don't want it to close down, this school and college are very important to me. This school doesn't deserve to be closed down.

"I am very worried and angry and would like to keep the school open please.

"I don't want to leave my home."

The reaction comes after The John Townsend Trust, which operates the school, was placed into administration yesterday while a review of its financial position is carried out.

The school teaches and cares for deaf children and young people with learning difficulties but it faces closure, which is putting hundreds of students and jobs at risk.

Kimberly Carrara, 31, whose daughter Sasha attends the school, set up a Facebook page last night called 'Save the Royal School for Deaf education, Margate from closure'.

The page has already gained the support of more than 5,500 people.

Miss Carrara's daughter is 11 years old and not only is she profoundly deaf she also suffers with cerebal palsy, epilepsy, learning difficulties and has to be tube-fed.

Kimberly said: "It would be such a relief for them to keep the school open. When Sasha doesn't attend school in the summer she gets so upset.

"It is the only school that caters for additional needs children in the whole country. If it was to shut there would be nowhere for children like Sasha to go.

"We relocated here from Somerset and it wasn't an easy decision because it was across the country but it was one that I knew had to be done, the school she was at she was regressing but she has come on so much since being here."

The non-maintained school, which was established in 1792, looks after up to 55 young people with emotional and behavioural communication difficulties.

It will remain open at least until the end of term but administrators say 120 staff have been made redundant with immediate effect.

They added recent restructuring efforts had been unable to stem the “unsustainable pressure” on the trust’s cash-flow.

Danielle Warrington escorts some of the children to and from school.

The 20-year-old said: "We need to fight to save this very special school and the amazing work it does for these children and young people.

"I'm heartbroken for these children. This is their lifeline. Their way of life. They have moved just to attend a school that caters for their needs.

"There is not another college or school in the country that can provide what these teachers can. It's soul destroying."

Danielle has set up a go fund me page at www.gofundme.com/savetheschool to raise money in an attempt to keep the school open.

She added: "I understand it's not going to solve the problem but every little helps and together if everyone pulled together and worked as a team, something could be done to save this school."