A WEST Devon primary school is to have a new headteacher, following a troubled year in which its governing body resigned en masse.

Devon County Council was forced to install an interim management committee at Horrabridge Primary School in March this year, after the governors resigned.

At the time, a county spokesman said problems with funding at the school resulted from a fall in pupil numbers. The national decline in school roles has been exacerbated in the village due to a large number of MoD houses lying empty.

The county confirmed this week that headteacher Martin Iddon, who has been at Horrabridge for 18 years, is taking early retirement.

The spokesman said: ?The Local Education Authority has been supporting the school and will now be doing everything possible to ensure the smooth appointment of a new headteacher to take the school forward.?

In a letter to parents at the school, David Tall, chair of Horrabridge management committee, said John Meehan, the acting headteacher, would continue to lead the school until a new head was appointed.

The timetable for making the appointment would be on the agenda of the next management committee meeting in November.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett has attended three meetings with concerned parents and former governors of Horrabridge School this year and highlighted their concerns to the county council.

Mr Burnett said: ?I am delighted the matter will now be resolved, I wish the previous head well for his retirement.?