A YOUNG Asperger's sufferer, who is hopeful of leaving the Austen Pupil Referral Unit with a clutch of GCSEs, has spoken of his fears over its impending closure.

Matthew Rich, 16, is currently taking exams including English, maths and science, and said he would not even be sitting them if it were not for the school.

He is worried about what will happen to youngsters in a similar situation when the school closes this year, and said it has become "like home".

Under current proposals by Hampshire County Council, pupils and staff from the unit will be transferred to the Ashwood Education Centre, in Winklebury, which currently takes in excluded pupils.

Matthew, a former Cranbourne School pupil, said: "I think it is a shame because it gave a lot of support to me. If it hadn't had been for the unit, I probably wouldn't be taking my GCSEs.

"I am quite worried about what will happen to teenagers in my situation who can't handle secondary school."

Matthew's mother Marianne said: "He is much more confident for going there and would not have been able to stay in mainstream school."

As The Basingstoke Extra revealed three months ago, the Austen unit, in Chiltern Way, is to close at the end of this school term as a result of a review of behaviour support by Hampshire County Council.

Pupils and staff at the unit, which takes in youngsters with long-term illnesses, emotional problems, and also pregnant girls and mothers of school age who have problems, are to be transferred to the Ashwood centre next term while the council considers what should be done in the long run.

The council says that longer-term arrangements will come into effect in September 2005.