Campaigners fighting controversial school plans in Hounslow have launched a crowdfunding appeal to bankroll their legal challenge.

Nishkam School West London was given planning permission by Hounslow Council last November to build a 1,400 place school for pupils aged four to 18 on the old White Lodge sports ground in Osterley .

But opponents, who are concerned about the loss of protected Metropolitan Open Land and the impact on traffic, have not given up their fight.

The campaign group Keep Osterley Green (KOG) this month lodged an application for a judicial review into the planning decision.

Members of the Keep Osterley Green (KOG) group demonstrate against the Nishkam School Trust's plans for a new school building in Osterley

It says it has already raised more than £20,000 from local residents towards legal fees, should a review be granted.

The group has now turned to the CrowdJustice website in a bid to bolster its funds, and had already secured an extra £1,000 within 24 hours of launching their online appeal on Tuesday (March 15). The total currently stands at £1,100.

'We've been amazed by the response'

George Andraos, of KOG, said: "We've been amazed by the response from residents, who helped us raise £20,000 in a matter of weeks.

"We're very confident we will get to stage two (in the judicial review process) so we need to raise even more money. If we're not successful in getting to the next stage any unused money will be refunded."

Nishkam is currently based at an old office block in Isleworth but will soon outgrow its current home.

It says the new building, scheduled for completion in autumn 2017, will allow it to expand and help bridge the predicted shortfall in secondary places across Hounslow.

Members of the Give Osterley Opportunity (GOO) campaign group, who supported Nishkam School West London's planning application

The school claims the White Lodge site was identified as the only suitable location following a thorough search but opponents believe that search left a lot to be desired.

Nishkam is a "Sikh-ethos" school, meaning its approach is centred around the principles of Sikhism but it accepts pupils from all and no faiths.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England recently criticised plans to build on open land across the capital, declaring it "open season on London's protected green spaces". It cited Nishkam as one case where it believes planning permission should have been refused.

The new school building still requires permission from the Mayor of London , who has yet to publish his decision.

getwestlondon has approached Nishkam School West London and Hounslow Council for a comment.