A campaign group supposedly founded by local residents in support of a controversial new school in Hounslow has been denounced as a fake by rival protesters after links were revealed to two school employees, one of whom is listed as living in Glasgow.

But the group insists the fact some members are connected with local schools does not invalidate their right to an opinion and means they have seen first hand the need for new schools in the area.

Give Osterley Opportunity (GOO) was set up to make the case for Nishkam School West London's proposed new building on an old sports field in Osterley - plans which have been vehemently opposed by the protest group Keep Osterley Green (KOG).

GOO said it had been started by local residents wanting to make the case for new schools in the borough and correct what it said was misleading information being propagated by KOG.

But KOG members have learned the group's website was registered by a Balraj Singh Burmy, a Nishkam employee living in Glasgow - a discovery they say gives rise to GOO's claims to have been started by local residents.

They have also learned one of the GOO members posing outside a recent public meeting was a Balraj Singh Gill - an administrator for Nishkam School West London.

"It is not at all difficult to conclude that the group is simply a feeble attempt by Nishkam to influence opinion by pretending that their proposed school has significant local support," said KOG member Gerry Stevens.

"We are of the view that their having to resort to such tactics shows the exact opposite."

Members of the Give Osterley Opportunity (GOO) campaign group, including Nishkam school administrator Balraj Singh Gill at the back

However, GOO representative Ravinder Singh said the fact some supporters had connections to a local school did not invalidate their right to have an opinion, and nor did it change the fact the group had collected 1,200 letters of support for new schools in the area.

"We are disappointed KOG feel the need to try and attack our group which has just as much right to make our voice heard as they do," he added.

"We respect that they differ in opinion. However, they need to understand that many residents recognise the desperate need for new high quality schools in the borough and want to support the volunteers, teachers and educational groups working hard to make this happen.

"This is highlighted by the hundreds of letters sent to the council in support of the Nishkam application."

getwestlondon contacted the school but it declined to comment, saying this was a matter for the campaign groups.

Nishkam School Trust has applied to create a new school building for 1,400 pupils at the old Conquest Club site in Syon Lane, Osterley.

It says there is a need for extra school places in the borough and this is the only suitable location for the Sikh ethos school to move to when it outgrows its current home at an old office block in Isleworth.

But KOG claims the site is unsuitable as it is protected Metropolitan Open Land and they fear the school will add to existing congestion on surrounding roads.