A SCHOOL that was to be given a new home is to be closed to reduce surplus places.

County Durham's School Organisation Committee has approved plans by Durham County Council to shut North Blunts Primary, in Peterlee, in the summer.

The committee has already approved the council's plans to close Haswell Primary for the same reason.

The two schools were selected for closure from an initial list of more than 20 across the county.

The council had planned to rebuild North Blunts as a smaller school in a land swap with the developer behind the revamp of Peterlee town centre. But officials concluded that the scheme would do nothing to fill surplus places in neighbouring schools, where North Blunts pupils may now end up attending.

North Blunts is 40 per cent under capacity. This is expected to rise to 60 per cent in the next three years and the existing building would need £500,000-worth of repairs and maintenance in the next ten years, including asbestos removal.

An Ofsted inspection in 2002 found the school had serious weaknesses but a follow-up check said the school was making "reasonable progress" in addressing the problems.

Parent Tony Hawkridge told the committee that "the school was like no other and brought out the best in the children".

Mr Hawkridge, who lives in Hartlepool but works in Peterlee, chose North Blunts for his five-year-old daughter Emily-Rose, because of its location, facilities and strong community links.

Headteacher Jim Pritchard said the surplus place problem at two schools could be solved if the new North Blunts building went ahead and the nursery based there moved to Shotton Hall when the junior and infants schools amalgamated.

Mr Pritchard said the school attracted pupils from a wide area and closure would reduce parental choice.

But after debating the issue in private, the committee, made up of county councillors, Church representatives and school governors, voted for closure. Committee chairman Neil Foster, county council cabinet member for education, said: "I appreciate it is an emotional time for the school."

Afterwards Mr Pritchard, headteacher for 18 years, said: "Obviously we are very disappointed. We thought we made some reasonable points."

Mr Hawkridge said: "I feel my choice is being taken away from me. I want my daughter to go to that school but I no longer have that choice."