PARENTS told of their shock last night at the "bombshell" news that Rise Carr Primary School in Darlington was likely to close this summer.

The school, a listed building which opened more than a century ago, will shut in July if council proposals are approved by the independent School Organisation Committee.

The majority of pupils are expected to move to either nearby North Road or Harrowgate Hill primary schools, although some may have to go further afield.

It is not known what will happen to the school building, in Eldon Street, although it may be boarded up in the short-term.

Vicky Carr, 29, from North Road, who has three children at the school, said: "We had no idea at all this was going to happen, so as you can imagine, it's a bit of a bombshell.

"My kids have been at the school for three years and to be honest, they've only just started to settle in. The idea of having to uproot them to another school is really something I could do without."

Another parent, who asked not to be named, said: "I think it's totally out of order. This is going to mean a load of hassle for parents and teachers."

School governors contacted by The Northern Echo said it was too soon to comment on the plan.

It will go before the borough council's cabinet next Tuesday, when councillors will be told it was identified for closure because of its falling roll.

A report to the cabinet shows that Rise Carr has 175 pupils and 35 surplus places caused by falling birth rates. Education officers predict it will have 64 unneeded places by 2007.

The school needs more than £130,000 of building work and has no playing field.

The council also wants to close Albert Hill Nursery School this summer and merge it with Gurney Pease Primary School in September, but will need the approval of the School Organisation Committee to do so.

All nursery school pupils would be guaranteed a place at the primary school, which would need £200,000 of building work to accommodate them.

The nursery, in Prescott Street, may have to be temporarily boarded-up.

Father Ian Grieves, chairman of governors at Gurney Pease, said: "It's good news for the primary school, but everyone will be very sad to see the closure of the nursery."

The cabinet is also expected later this month to approve a plan to demolish part of Corporation Road Primary School, subject to governors' agreement. The infant area of the school would be knocked down and a multi-games area built in its place as part of a £350,000 scheme.