North Lanarkshire Council's Learning and Leisure Services Committee approved controversial proposals to shut Abronhill High School and move the 480 pupils to Cumbernauld High a couple of miles away.

Despite a high profile campaign and the backing of celebrities and politicians, councillors at today's meeting rubber stamped a recommendation from council officers to pull the plug on the school, made famous in the 1980s film.

The closure will save the council around £1million a year, but protesters say the proposals ignored the school’s good academic record and that it will have a severe impact on the Abronhill community.

The public response to the council’s consultation period was "considerable and unprecedented"  and overall, the responses were "significantly against the proposal", according to a report published by the council last month.

A packed public gallery at Motherwell Civic Centre reacted with outrage as the decision to close the school was approved by councillors by a vote of 20-12.

There were shouts of "shame on you".

The council voted to refuse a representative from a group of around 50 protesters to make a presentation to the committee - a decision which was criticised by opposition councillors.

Following representations from councillors opposed to the closure, the committee voted to approve the recommendation to close Abronhill High School.