HUNDREDS of people have backed an online campaign to save an inspirational music teacher from losing his job.

Parents and children have joined forces to save Dave Hignett’s role as team leader within the Northumberland Centre for Creative and Performing Arts after recent management changes resulted in the musician learning he would be made redundant in coming months.

More than 600 people have joined a Facebook group to fight against the decision in a bid to preserve the high quality of teaching that Mr Hignett has provided to youngsters throughout the county for 20 years.

Mr Hignett is an experienced trumpet player who has provided tuition to hundreds of students since taking up his role at the County Music Service in 1990. As well as teaching, he has also set up and conducts numerous youth bands and jazz orchestras. Father-of-two Dr John Knapton, of Stocksfield, Northumberland, was eager to back the campaign as his 15-year-old son, Tom, has been a student of Mr Hignett’s for years, but the GP now fears teaching standards may slip in the wake of his departure from the service.

He explained: “My son is getting trumpet lessons from Dave and has done so since he started middle school. I assumed he would be able to have Dave as a teacher and mentor until he left school.”

Tom, who goes to Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, Northumberland, and scores of other students are facing a future without the inspirational teacher.

Dr Knapton added: “Dave is one of those special guys who has a special way with kids because they respect him and he brings out the best of them.”

Tom, who has a twin brother called Noah, was the one who set up the Facebook page to draw attention to Mr Hignett’s situation so pupils, past and present, could lend their support to the campaign.

Now a group of parents have lodged a formal objection with Northumberland County Council about the restructuring that has caused Mr Hignett’s role to become defunct.

Many former students of Mr Hignett’s have gone on to use the skills taught by him to make a living, including members of North East bands Everything Everything, Mammal Club and Vinyl Jacket.

Sarah Kilby, a former student of Mr Hignett’s, said losing him would have a massive effect on the future of brass and student orchestras in Northumberland.

The 20-year-old, of Hexham, Northumberland, who is currently studying English Language at Cardiff University, added: “I genuinely believe there is no one out there who can replace Dave or be anywhere near the inspirational teacher that he has been and should continue to be.”

An online petition on the council’s website had now gone live and people have until March 31 to lend their support .

To sign the petition log on to: http://bit.ly/fChAT6