MORE than 50 parents packed a crisis meeting in Horrabridge last week, following the resignation of most of the village school's governing body.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who attended the meeting by special invitation, said parents and former governors told him morale at the school was 'very low'.

'There are grave concerns over the falling roll; a number of children in the village have elected to go to other schools in the area which is a crying shame because it's a beautiful new building,' said Mr Burnett, who this week met the county council's director of education to discuss the 'serious situation' at Horrabridge School.

Mr Burnett said: 'I have left the local education authority in absolutely no doubt as to the grave concerns of the parents and former governors. I have asked the LEA to make a full report to me about exactly what they are doing and what they aim to achieve before the children go back to school.'

The county council appointed an interim committee to manage Horrabridge School following the resignation of the majority of its governors just before the end of term.

A spokesman for Devon County Council said the council could not comment on the present situation at Horrabridge School — nor could it comment on staff redundancies.

A meeting is due to be held between the LEA and parents of children at the school on April 20 at 5.30pm.